The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	CAG indicts Industries Dept for poor performance Dinesh Manhotra/TNS Jammu, June 13 Even as the Union Government has extended a “special” industrial package worth Rs 296 crore till this fiscal end in J&K, the state government has miserably failed to properly utilise the earlier packages announced by the Centre. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, which was tabled in the Budget session of the Assembly, has pointed out that special industrial packages had failed to achieve desirable results of generating employment for the locals. While announcing that the Centre has accepted the demand for the extension of Rs 296-crore industrial package to the state till the end of the present fiscal year, Industries and Commerce Minister Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo claimed yesterday that it would help in generating employment opportunities for the locals, besides boosting industrialisation in the state. Employment generation was the basic objective of both the Union Government’s incentives as well as the industrial policy of the state, the report said. It added that a total of 5,312 industrial units were registered during 2007-12, which gave employment to 38,380 persons at an average of seven persons by each industrial unit. The average employment provided by each industrial unit ranged between six and nine from 2007-08 to 2011-12, which defeated the basic cause of announcing such incentives. One of the objectives of the Central package and the state industrial policy is to generate 90 per cent employment for the locals in industrial units. But the CAG report said the Department of Industries and Commerce was not monitoring whether the industrial unit set under the special industrial packages were meeting the objective of employment generation. “The employment-generation data was accepted as claimed by the industrial units without any mechanism for verification being in place,” the report said. “There is no mechanism in place to monitor the turnover, value of output, profitability, extent and quality of turnover and extent of value addition in the manufacturing units to see whether these are commensurate with the burden of tax concession and subsidies on the public exchequer,” said the audit report. The Centre yesterday accepted the demand of the state government and extended the special industrial package till March 2014. The special industrial package will be applicable with effect from tomorrow.
	Highway ambulance service in limbo since 2012 Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 13 Despite the passage of over a year, the proposal to deploy critical-care ambulances along the highways in Kashmir has not taken off as rate contract finalised in this regard has been kept in abeyance by the authorities concerned since February 2013. This is despite the fact that the authorities in Kashmir have already procured 25 ambulances, which were proposed to be utilised for improving the availability and quality of patient transfer, especially during accidents and emergencies in the region. The ‘Critical Care Ambulances’ project is in limbo ever since March 2012 when the government had announced to deploy ambulances equipped with critical-care systems along the national highways in the state under a special helpline service number to minimise accidental deaths. Of the procured 25 ambulances, 13 were supposed to be converted into critical-care ambulances to be deployed along the highway in all the districts of Kashmir. “However, the proposal is eating dust as the rate contract finalised in this regard has been kept in abeyance by the authorities concerned,” sources said. The orders for keeping in abeyance the rate contract for converting and fabricating 13 ambulances into critical-care ambulances were issued by the Purchase Committee-II of the Health and Medical Education Department vide orders number GMC/J/RCC/Corr/2208-14, dated 18/02/2013, documents accessed by The Tribune revealed. Saleem-ur-Rehman, Director, Health Services, Kashmir, had submitted in his recent action-taken report to the high court that 12 out of the 25 ambulances procured by the Directorate of Health, Kashmir, under the National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) were in the process of being deployed in other districts of the Valley to strengthen the existing ambulance network of the Health Department. On the other hand, the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu, was also reported to have procured 12 ambulances and were currently being “fabricated” to be deployed as critical-care ambulances at 12 locations along the national highway in the region, documents revealed. The decision to deploy critical-care ambulances had come in the wake of the high court directions, wherein the government had been directed to arrange such ambulances along the highways besides putting up warning signages and other basic amenities. These directions were issued by the high court on August 29, 2011, in response to a public interest litigation filed by Sajid Iqbal Foundation, a non-governmental organisation.
	Government apathy allows child labour to thrive in state Authorities fail to implement National Child Labour Project Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, June 13 The apathy of the state government has dashed all the hopes of child labourers for a bright future as the authorities have failed to implement the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) in the state. Out of total 22 districts in the state, three districts namely Jammu, Srinagar and Udhampur were identified for the implementation of the scheme, which was formulated for the rehabilitation child labourers. However, the authorities failed to get desirable results. Though a proposal was sent to the Union Government for setting up rehabilitation centres for “identified” child labourers, no action has been taken on the proposal so far. “Last year, we had forwarded a proposal for establishing rehabilitation centres for child labourers to the Union Government, but the same is yet to be approved by the Centre,” Ashok Choudhary, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Jammu, told The Tribune. He said a comprehensive survey was conducted in Jammu district to identify child labourers. “As many as 1026 children have been identified in Jammu district, who have been working as child labourers in different establishments,” he said. He added that as per the proposal, at least 20 rehabilitation centres were required for the rehabilitation of these “identified” child labourers. Highly placed sources said the proposal forwarded by the Labour Department was faulty so the Central Government had not given any response to the state government. “The methodology for identifying child labour was doubtful as the authorities have adopted an apathetic attitude while dealing with the issue,” the sources said. They added that the National Advisory Board on Child Labour had raised a number of queries about proposal being sent by the state government. In Udhampur district, where some rehabilitation centres were opened under NCLP schemes, results were also not encouraging. The Labour Department had claimed to rescue 430 children, who had been working as child labourers, including domestic servants, but these children were not properly rehabilitated. The Labour Department with the support of the Udhampur district administration had opened 11 rehabilitation centres for rescued child labourers but slowly a majority of these children returned to their “old jobs” due to the apathy of the authorities. In J&K, there is huge number of children who have been working as labourers. According to an official data, in 1971, there were 70,789 child labourer, this number increased to 2, 58,437 in 1981. According to the 2001 Census, there were 1,75,000 child labourers in the state and this number reached 2.5 lakh in 2011.
	Rahul Gandhi to visit Doda tomorrow Amir Karim Tantray Tribune News Service Jammu, June 13 To reach out to people of quake-affected areas of Doda, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) vice-president Rahul Gandhi will visit the area of Saturday. Gandhi is expected to meet quake-affected people at Ghat village and Bhaderwah of Doda. Bhaderwah was the most affected area during the May 1 quake where almost every structure developed cracks. In Ghat village things were no different. Union minister for health and family welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad, AICC general secretary and J&K in-charge Mohan Prakash, Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz and other Congress ministers from the state will accompany Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi will reach Srinagar on Saturday morning where he will attend a function and in the afternoon reach Doda to meet residents of quake-hit areas. Ahead of his visit, 20 vehicles of security persons have reached Ghat and are sanitising the area. “After reaching Doda, Rahul Gandhi will visit Ghat village, five kilometers from Doda town, and will meet quake-affected people. Whether he will address a public meeting or not is his discretion,” Abdul Majeed Wani, Minister for R&B and senior Congress leader said.
	Governor reviews Amarnath yatra arrangements Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 13 Governor NN Vohra chaired a review meeting here today and took stock of the status of arrangements being made for the Amarnath yatra, which will commence on June 28. The Governor, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, deputed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the shrine board Navin K Choudhary and RK Pandita, Head, Engineering Division, to visit each of the seven yatra camps and review completion status of all the arrangements. The Governor told the CEO to prepare a camp-wise report on the status of the arrangements being made by all the departments and agencies concerned. This report will be reviewed by the Governor on the CEO’s return. As per the Governor’s directions, the CEO and his team will spend next three days on the tracks.
	Barve calls on Governor Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 13 Sushobha Barve, Executive Director of the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR), called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today. During the meeting, Barve briefed the Governor about the activities of the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation in the last one year within India and Pakistan, which were aimed at promoting peace and normalcy in the region, an official said.
	Lt-Gen Gurmeet meets Governor Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 13 Lt-Gen Gurmeet Singh, Corps Commander, 15 Corps, called on Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhawan here today. During their meeting, the Governor and Lt- Gen Singh discussed various issues relating to internal and external security management. They also discussed the security arrangements being made for the forthcoming Amarnath yatra. This was Lt-Gen Gurmeet Singh’s first meeting with the Governor after taking over as the Corps Commander, 15 Corps. The Governor wished him a successful tenure.
	Advani to release book on Praja Parishad on June 23 Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, June 13 BJP patriarch L K Advani seems to be in a rapprochement mode with the RSS as he has reportedly given his consent to preside over a Sangh Parivar-sponsored function to be held here on June 23. Pandit Prem Nath Dogra Trust-a NGO formed in the memory of Jan Sangh leader Prem Nath Dogra, is organising a function to release a book, written by Kuldeep Agnihotri on the history of ‘Praja Parishad’ agitation, which was launched in early 1950s for the total integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country. Advani would release the book in the function in which all senior RSS leaders will be present. The death anniversary of Dr Shyama Parshad Mukherjee, founder of Jan Sangh, who died under mysterious circumstances in jail in Srinagar during the agitation, falls on June 23. “LK Advani has given his consent to preside over the function,” Daya Ram Sharma, one of the members of the Trust said. “Trust members were unanimous that L K Advani is the most suitable person to preside over this function because he (Advani) himself associated with Praja Parishad movement so we contact him and he gave his consent to preside over the function,” Sharma said. Sangh Parivar sources said due to the recent developments especially after Advani’s resignation from top posts of the BJP, the Trust members feared that he (Advani) may not accept the invitation. “After consultation with senior RSS functionaries, the Trust members contacted Advani who gave his consent,” sources said. They added that the decision of Advani to attend this programme seems a very positive development because his presence in the RSS-sponsored function would give a message to the cadre. In the function besides releasing the book, Advani will also honour 12 members of families of those who were killed in police firing during ‘Ek Vidhan, Ek Pradhan and Ek Nishan’ agitation. Though the Sangh Parivar leaders are tightlipped over Advani’s engagements during his visit, sources said veteran BJP leader would also meet with some veteran RSS leader of Jammu, who were associated with the agitation.
	What motivates Kashmir’s youth to become militants? Azhar Qadri Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 13 They are in their early 20s, well educated and have earned themselves the name of new-age militants. It is tough to find an answer to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s question as to what motivates them to become militants. Omar said yesterday that the trend of well-educated youth becoming militants was a “cause of concern” and there was a need to analyse what motivated them. The evidence available with The Tribune points out that religion was the key motivating factor, which along with a sense of injustice-both perceived and real-was convincing these young men to take to the path of militancy. Hilal Ahmad Rather, a scholar in Islamic law from the famed Deoband seminary in Uttar Pradesh, and Muzumil Amin Dar, a technician at the region’s leading hospital, first met in jail in 2010 after they were separately arrested by the police and later detained without trial under the Public Safety Act. The police records show Hilal was arrested for “stoking” stone pelters in his native Palhalan village of north Kashmir, Muzumil was arrested, according to his family, when some unknown gunmen dumped weapons in their house compound in Sopore town. The police has termed the family’s claim as “far from truth” and said Muzumil had already figured in various militancy incidents when he was arrested. In an undated video, Hilal, aka Mufti Hilal - then a civilian - is seen addressing a gathering at his village and expresses his motivation for life and death. “Let India’s dark empire listen to this, let the agents listen to this,” Hilal says in a speech, “We will say this till our death, it will be either martyrdom or it will be Shariyat (Islamic rule)”. The concept of “Shahadat ya Shariyat (Martyrdom or Islamic rule)”, which Hilal referred to in his speech, has become a focal point of many global Islamist militant movements in recent years. Hilal was killed in a brief gunfight in Srinagar’s old city on May 23 this year. Last year in October, Muzumil, aka Hashaam and Urfi, along with a Pakistani militant Abdullah Shaheen was killed in an encounter in his native Sopore town. Through the night of the encounter, when gunfight was raging, Muzumil called his family. “Follow Islam completely until you live,” Muzumil told his family in his last message, hours before he was killed. “There is nothing to worry. We shall all meet in Jannah (paradise). This life is too short, how long will it last. You too have to die, we too have to die. Some go early and some go later, rest Allah will do everything right. Tell everyone (in the family) to be patient and not to cry at all,” he says in a calm tone. Muzumil’s father Mohammad Amin Dar confirmed the conversation was authentic saying his militant son had already suffered a gun-shot wound and was bleeding while he was talking to family and asking them to be steadfast on Islam. A senior police official, who keeps a regular track of militant activities across Kashmir region, said religious radicalisation is one of the factors motivating the militants. “It is definitely one of the factors, though not the (only) factor,” the officer said adding that motivations usually vary from one case to another. “There are different motivations and there is no specific pattern. What motivated these educated new militants we are trying to ascertain that,” he said. The officer, however, said that some part of the motivation may come from perceived or real injustices felt or experienced by these young men. “Islamic awakening, what may be called as Islamic radicalization. They are not secular militants as some of the militants were in the past,” another officer said.
	325 militants active in Valley Army basis claim on intelligence inputs Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 13 The outgoing General Officer Commanding of the Chinar Corps of the Army, Lt Gen Om Prakash, today said 325 militants were active in the Valley. “The calculation that has been done along with other security agencies and intelligence inputs reveal the number of militants active is 325,” Prakash told the media here today. He has moved to the Army headquarters for his next assignment after a year-long tenure in Srinagar. “Our assessment shows that 60 to 70 per cent militants are active in north Kashmir (Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipore districts) and others are based in south Kashmir (Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian and Kulgam districts),” he said. He said the component of the foreign militants was more active in the Valley. “Out of the total active militants, 60 per cent are foreigners,” he said. The Army’s figures about the militants are much higher than the assessment of the police. Recently a senior police officer in Kashmir had revealed that 120 militants were active in the Valley and this figure was the lowest since militancy erupted in the state in 1990. Prakash said two groups of militants had managed to sneak into the valley from Pakistan so far. “Whenever the snow starts melting, Pakistan tries to sneak in militants and the recent ceasefire violations were also aimed at helping the infiltrators. But we are on an alert and are fully prepared to avert their designs,” he said. The two groups militants had managed to infiltrate to Valley from Pakistan. He said it was a matter of concern that the militants who were killed in recent encounters in south Kashmir were qualified. On Wednesday, CM Omar Abdullah had also said highly-qualified militants who were killed in the recent encounter was a matter of grave concern. “But there are very few militants who are qualified. If we see the profile of militants, 90 per cent among them are not well educated. Fahadullah, the top commander of the Lashker-e-Toiba who was arrested recently, was a Class V pass out,” Prakash said.
	MP IAS officer among 4 killed in accident in Ladakh IG, IAS probationer injured Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 13 Four persons, including an IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre and his wife died in a accident when their vehicle rolled down a deep gorge at Khardungla in Leh, 452 km from Srinagar. Inspector General, Vigilance, Bhopal, and an IAS probationer were also injured in the accident. A police spokesman said Commissioner Industrial Board Bhopal, Dharma Rao, his wife Vidya Rao, Kumet Singh and driver Chemet Dorjay, a resident of Hamaskot, Kargil, died in the accident on Thursday. “Seven persons were travelling in an Innova vehicle and were on way from Leh to Nobra when it skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge at Khardungla, which is 18,000 feet above sea level. While four persons died on the spot, three others including, IG, Vigilance, Bhopal, Ashok Awasthi, his wife Manjoori Awasti and Shivindra Singh, Development Project Authority, Bhopal, were injured in the accident,” the spokesperson said. Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Simranjit Singh said the families of the officers were travelling in two vehicles. “The vehicle skidded off the road at around 9 am. Luckily Awasthi’s phone was in working condition. The IG was able to call the police officers and it was how we came to know about the accident. We saw the children of the officers, who saw the vehicle rolling down, in shock,” Simranjit Singh said. “Within two hours, we recovered the bodies of the four. We also shifted the four injured to the District Hospital, Leh, for treatment,” he added.
	Minister’s brother among 2 booked for negligence after HC order Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 13 Come Saturday evening, Srinagar will host Bollywood singer Sadhna Sargam and musician Annu Malik on the banks of the world famous Dal lake. The two will enthral the audience at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) during the grand finale of “Choona Hai Aasman”, a musical talent hunt show organised by the J&K Police under its civic action programme. “The two have agreed to perform live during the grand finale of ‘Choona Hai Aasman’ show at the SKICC,” said Dr SP Vaid, Additional Director General of Police, Headquarters, during a media briefing in Srinagar. It is after a long time that a Bollywood singer and musician will perform live during any show in Srinagar. Last time, Bollywood stars had performed live during the launch of the Kashmir Channel in 2002 in the foothills of Zabararwan. Apart from performing live, both will also judge the performance of singers during the finale of the show along with Waheed Jeelani, a well-known singer from Kashmir. “The singing competition is a flagship of the endeavours of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, which gives a platform to underprivileged children of the state to showcase their talent,” Vaid said. The programme was conceived in 2010 and a talent hunt was started to identify budding artistes in all the districts of the state.
	Minister’s brother among 2 booked for negligence after HC order Our Correspondent Rajouri, June 13 The brother of state Health Minister Shabir Ahmed Khan is among the two doctors booked for their alleged negligence leading to the death of Shariq Shadab, 18, PDP MLA’s nephew, at the District Hospital Rajouri on May 1. He died while undergoing a nose operation. The police has lodged a case under Section 304 A of the RPC against the two doctors presently posted at the Sarwal Hospital, Jammu. SHO, Rajouri, Varidner Gupta said, “We have registered an FIR under Section 304 A of the RPC against two doctors for negligence leading to the death of youth in hospital, but no arrest has been made in this case.” The police registered the case on the directions of the High Court. A Magisterial Inquiry Committee which was conducted to probe into the circumstances which led to the death of Shariq Shahdab during a minor operation, had clearly indicted Dr Bashir Khan, real brother of Minister of State for Health (in-charge) Shabir Ahmed Khan and surgeon Dr Vijay Gupta for negligence. The Health Department had ordered another departmental inquiry committee to probe into the circumstances leading to the death, headed by Dr YP Sharma, Deputy Director, Heath, and comprising Dr Manish Sharma, Dr Arun Arora, Dr KK Gupta and Dr Rakesh Gupta. The committee had given a clean chit to the doctors allegedly under the pressure of the Health Ministry because one of the accused was brother of the state Health Minister. Later, the accused doctors were posted at the Sarwal Hospital, Jammu, instead of punishing them. “We moved the High Court 10 days back after that the police took action on the directions of the High Court and registered a case against doctors. Being a family member we are not satisfied with the attitude of the government. We want justice,” Zulfiqar said.
	Advisory on rising Chenab levels issued Devinder Thakur Katra, June 13 Reasi DC Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, who is Chairman, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), has issued and urgent advisory to the general public about opening of gates at the Salal Hydro-electric Power Station reservoir. This is expected to result in rising of Chenab river water level downstream and flooding of irrigation canals. The public has been advised not to venture into crossing the river, excavation or any kind of activities in the river bed or along the banks till the warning is withdrawn. This advisory was necessitated after information was submitted by Chief Engineer, NPHC, about rising levels in the reservoir due to recurrent rainfall in upstream and catchment area. The gates of Salal Dam are scheduled to be opened on June 15 and 16 at 8 am for flushing of silt which will lead to flooding of the river banks. Any movement of men, vehicles or animals along the Chenab banks is strictly prohibited on these two days. Irrigation and Flood control department has been asked to take precautionary measures to avert any loss of life or property due to flooding of canals. THE THREAT This advisory was necessitated after information was submitted by Chief Engineer, NPHC, about rising levels in the reservoir due to recurrent rainfall in upstream and catchment area. Irrigation and Flood control department has been asked to take precautionary measures to avert any loss of life or property due to flooding of canals.