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65th Poonch Link-Up Day celebrated
Tributes paid to martyrs
Youth in Valley opting for their own business ventures
Central heating defunct at 17 hospitals in Valley
BOPEE leaves toppers bitter and betrayed
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This old man has novel way of protest
Hoteliers told to suspend commercial activities
Only 222 institutions from 2,511 deposit school games fund
Govt employees hold protest for release of pending wages
Hockey tourney from tomorrow
Past taint comes to haunt MBBS scam accused Intrusion bid foiled in Rajouri, soldier injured CM must explain why corrupt officials get extension: PDP 834-gm stone removed from man’s bladder
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65th Poonch Link-Up Day celebrated
Poonch, November 22
The celebrations started with the wreath laying ceremony at the War Memorial. Major General VP Singh, General Officer Commanding, the Ace of Spades Division and other senior officers laid wreath and remembered the contribution of each soldier, who made the supreme sacrifice defending Poonch. The day is celebrated every year to commemorate the link-up between Brigadier Pritam Singh’s forces and the forces advancing from Rajouri at Danna Ka Pir on November 21, 1948. Brigadier Singh, Military Cross, is known as the ‘Saviour of Poonch’. The celebrations featured scintillating display of adventure activities by Army men. Schoolchildren and civilians also presented cultural programmes on the occasion. The children also performed a play highlight the Poonch Siege. DC, Poonch, Sajjad Ahmed Khan and Superintendent of Police, Poonch, Shamsheer Hussain were also present on the occasion.
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Tributes paid to martyrs
Poonch, November 22 Major General VP Singh, General Officer Commanding, the Ace of Spades Division, was the chief guest on the occasion. Major General VP Singh along with Brigadier S Thakaran, Brigadier 10 Brigade and Colonel Vikram Singh Thakur, Commanding Officer, 3 Grenadiers, laid the wreath and paid homage to the departed souls. Lieutenant General Daulat Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lieutenant General Bikram Singh, General Officer Commanding, 15 Corps, Major General KND Nanavati, Military Cross, General Officer Commanding 25 Infantry Division, Air Vice Marshall EW Pinto, Air Officer Commanding of Western Air Command. Brigadier SR Oberoi, Military Cross, Commander of 93 Infantry Brigade and Flight Lieutenant SS Sodhi were killed in a helicopter crash on November 22, 1963. The General’s Memorial was constructed by the Krishna Ghati Brigade to pay homage to the departed commanders and the first commemoration ceremony was held on November 28, 1980. Since then, every year the ceremony is held on November 22 along with the Poonch Link-Up Day celebrations. Ex-serviceman of the Poonch and Jhallas area also paid homage to the martyrs. Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Sajjad Ahmed Khan, Superintendent |
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Youth in Valley opting for their own business ventures
Srinagar, November 22 The number of entrepreneurs has grown remarkably in the Valley, where as per the government records an estimated three lakh people have been listed as unemployed in the last few years. Some of these entrepreneurs are re-branding the region’s old sectors, while some others are introducing new-age crafts to a place where government job has remained a preferred choice. With the vacancies in the government sector drying up and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasising time and again that the state cannot provide jobs to all, youth have been looking for other options for livelihood. This has given rise to a generation of new entrepreneurs --- smart, tech-savvy, hardworking and independent --- who are making efforts to earn a living despite an omnipresent uncertainty. Junaid Ahmad, a resident of an uptown neighbourhood on the banks of shimmering Dal Lake, is a young entrepreneur who has started his own venture in the Information Technology sector. The 24-year-old with an MBA degree, Ahmad is now the marketing head at Ilm Infinity, a company he co-founded with his two other friends, Mufti Usman, a post graduate in Network Technology, and Amir Shafi, an MCA. “It is the first of its kind institute in Kashmir, offering advanced training in software, hardware and networking. The curriculum taught is that of leading vendors in the IT sector like the Microsoft,” Ahmad said. He defined entrepreneurship as “essentially liberating”. “It is essentially liberating, in the sense that it helps in transcending the restrictions that come with a 9 to 5 job,” the youngster said. “Entrepreneurship has shaped successful economies and societies in all ages and we wanted to do the same,” he added. Many others like Ahmad are venturing into the Information Technology business or its allied sectors. At Kashmir Box, founded by two young men in their early twenties, they have included and excelled the concept of online shopping, listing almost all famed Kashmiri items for sale. Chief Operations Officer and co-founder of Kashmir Box, 23-year-old Muheet Mehraj, said they are trying to introduce Kashmiri brands in the international market. “So far we have come up with two brands. One is Kashpple, a brand of the finest apples from Kashmir, and another is Koshur, which is a gourmet brand,” he said. Away from the Information Technology sector, Aarif Shafi Khanyari, a resident of old city’s Rainawari locality, has developed a unique brand of jewelry, which is a blend of archaic Kashmiri designs and modernity. Last month, Khanyari was part of a group of 30 young entrepreneurs from across the world, who attended the fourth summit of the ‘Power of Youth’ in New Delhi. Ali’s de Jewels, which is Khanyari’s flourishing business, manufactures and sells a fusion of exquisite jewelry. Khanyari, who graduated from the Entrepreneurship Development Institute’s (EDI) training programme last year, now employs 11 workers, including artisans who manufacture, design and polish the jewels. The institute has emerged as a breeding ground for young entrepreneurs. “We have been able to change the mindset of youth and have prepared them to take up entrepreneurship as a career option,” Mohammad Ismail Parray, Director, EDI, told The Tribune. “The bottom-line is that there is no option without entrepreneurship in our state,” he added. Multiple schemes catering to different sets of people, be it the Higher Secondary pass-outs or doctors and engineers, are available at the EDI. The Seed Capital Fund Scheme, a component of the Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for Youth of the state government, provides seed money to the start-up entrepreneurs coupled with the bank finance. The capital varies from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakh depending on the educational qualification, the highest going to MBAs, doctors and engineers. The thrust areas include agriculture and allied sectors, manufacturing, food processing, tourism, Information Technology and services. |
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Central heating defunct at 17 hospitals in Valley
Srinagar, November 22 Sources said the hospitals were using gas heaters which were toxic for patients, especially women and children. “It’s cold these days and we are still dependent on the gas heaters and bukharis because the installed system is not working due to lack of funds. The government did not provide estimated funds,” the sources added. Central heating has been installed at hospitals in five districts, including Pulwama, Anantnag, Baramulla, Kupwara and Budgam. “The use of gas heaters and kangris by patients and attendants at the hospital can prove harmful for the health of patients and it can increase the mortality rate,” said an official from a hospital. He said a total of Rs 1.20 crore has been released in comparison to the estimated cost of around 20 crore for all 17 hospitals. “The amount that has been released by the government cannot bear the cost of even one hospital,” said the official. The government apathy has anguished the locals. “If government had no money to ensure the functioning of the central heating, what was the fun of installing it,” said Manzoor Ahmad, a local resident. BR Sharma, planning commissioner, Kashmir, said they had released the funds according to the plans. “ I have no information about it, we release funds according to the available plans, ” he said. Gas heaters threat to patients *
Central heating has been installed at hospitals in five districts, including Pulwama, Anantnag, Baramulla, Kupwara and
Budgam. * As many as 17 hospitals are using gas heaters at the hospitals which were toxic for patients, especially women and children. *
The use of gas heaters and kangris by patients and attendants at the hospital can increase the mortality rate |
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BOPEE leaves toppers bitter and betrayed
Srinagar, November 22 Yesterday, when the BOPEE scandal came into limelight as how the students were selected on the basis of paying money to authorities, Basra felt betrayed by the system. “I was sure about my selection but I was shocked to see those students getting selected who did not even score 55 per cent in class XII exams,” said Khan. The story is not of Basra alone but hundreds of position holders and hardworking students who despite giving their cent percent efforts didn’t get selected for MBBS. “I had 98 per cent in class XII exams. I used to study 20 hours a day and see what the corrupted system can do with our careers. We worked hard and those who paid money were selected. It is clear injustice,” said an engineering student from the National Institute of Technology. Parents felt that the hard work of their daughter went in vain. “I feel extremely let down by the system. My daughter wasted two years to grab a seat in GMC Srinagar, but in vain,” said Zahoor Ahmad, a disappointed father. “I was interested in medical that is why I did not go for counselling in engineering. I prepared for almost an year, but now I regret. I qualified the national exams in engineering because they were not corrupt, here I couldn’t qualify state level exams,” Muntaha added. Sidra, who got 165 points in CET, claims that least number of students from their batch got selected in the MBBS. “Almost 97 per cent of students are studying in different parts of the country because they couldn’t find a career opportunity here,” she said. The students demand that those who got entry into the government medical colleges after paying money should be identified and their admission should be cancelled. |
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This old man has novel way of protest
Srinagar, November 22 While talking to Tribune, Wali claims that he has registered his protest by painting his 1988 Ambassador car against a Regional Transport Officer (RTO) who cancelled the permit of his taxi. “The RTO cancelled the permit of my taxi and I wrote against him, I hope he sees this and gives my permit back,” Wali says. Wali has also complained against a fellow driver who according to the taxi driver owns him Rs 2,000, “I will keep on writing against those people who owe me money,” he says. “I want them to pay back.” Wali drives his car every afternoon across the narrow lanes of the old Srinagar city, city centre and Lal chowk. After the police and people observed his rare act of writing on his white ambassador car, Wali has been directed by the police to remove the slogans. “I removed once and have been doing it from the past three years. I feel betrayed by everyone,”
he says. He does not write the protesting lines himself, but seeks help from professional painters and spends his own money. “I had spent Rs 1,200 last time. Whenever police or anyone tells me to remove it, I do the same and then write it again,” Wali says. Wali has spent more than 15 years of his life driving taxis and trucks. Currently, he has one old ambassador car of 1988 model which he uses for himself. |
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Hoteliers told to suspend commercial activities
Srinagar, November 22 “We strongly protest the action of the administration,” said Faiz Bakshi, convener, coordination committee of the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation (KHAROF), Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA) and Pahalgam Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association (PHAROA). The protest was staged after several city-based hotels were raided by a team of senior officials for not following the standard procedures of the sewerage treatment plant (STP) set by the authorities concerned. Bakshi said the government had ordered suspension of commercial activities at 108 hotels following the directive of the State Pollution Control Board. He said the hoteliers had been told to suspend their commercial activities and electric supply to the hotels, too, was snapped. While the coordination committee later lodged a strong protest meeting with senior officials of the divisional administration, Bakshi said they would also move the High Court in this regard and pray for withdrawal of the directive. |
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Only 222 institutions from 2,511 deposit school games fund
Jammu, November 22 As per the data available till date, out of the total 2,511 institutions (1,528 government and 983 private), only 222 institutions have deposited the games fund. Out of these 222 institutions, 150 are government, while 72 are private. Sources said taking a serious note of the alleged irresponsible attitude of educational institutions towards depositing 50 per cent school games fund in the district pool of the DYSS, the department had earlier warned the management of the erring institutions that their students would not be allowed to participate in any of the tournaments to be organised by the department. The sources added that even that strategy failed to evoke a positive response from schools as majority of the private educational institutions continued to defy norms by sending their students for participation in competitions held at zonal, district, state and national level without submitting the required sports fee. The sources claimed that District Youth Services and Sports Officer (DYSSO), Jammu, Tirath Ram had convened a number of meetings of zonal physical education officers of all 14 zones to convey a strong message to the defaulter schools. Interestingly, the department was hoping that it would improve things, but that was not the case. “We personally visited private schools to inform their management about the issue, but they took it lightly. It is the height of negligence of educational institutions who are keeping the future of their students at stake,” said one of the DYSS official. “Because, the department will not allow the students of erring institutions to participate in the competitions. It means that these students will not be considered for the selection trials for the upcoming national games in various disciplines,” he maintained. Meanwhile, DYSSO Tirath Ram said, “We have given ample time to the erring institutions to deposit games fund, but in vain. In fact, we have tried every trick to improve the prevailing scenario. Though we achieved success to some extent, but still there is a long way to go.” The educational institutions of every district have to deposit 50 per cent of the school games fund in the district pool of their respective District Youth Services Office for the purchase of sports material and uniforms for the students competing in the district and inter-district level competitions. Students in trouble *
Out of the total 2,511 institutions (1,528 government and 983 private), only 222 institutions have deposited the school games fund. Out of these 222 institutions, 150 are government, while 72 are private *
District Youth Services and Sports Officer Tirath Ram said, "The department will not allow the students of erring institutions to participate in the competitions. It means that these students will not be considered for the selection trials for the upcoming national games in
various disciplines |
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Girl appeals to lawyers not to defend ‘married groom’
Jammu, November 22 She also made a fervent appeal to the members of the J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu, not to defend the accused "groom", who allegedly kept them (woman and her family) in dark about his married life, in the court case. "The need of the hour is to give an exemplary punishment to the entire family who kept me and my family in dark for almost six months so that nobody dares to do it again. I appeal the entire lawyers' fraternity of Jammu and Kashmir not to defend him as it will stop such incidents in future," the brave woman told reporters here. She alleged that her family was being pressurised by relatives of the accused to withdraw the case and settle the matter. "I am facing life threat and they will be responsible in case of any harm to me," she said. On November 22, the young woman was scheduled to get married with Neeraj Gupta, who allegedly cheated her and her family as he didn't disclose them that he was already married and has two children from his first wife. While the girl's family had made all the arrangements to receive the "barat" and solemnise the marriage, the "barat" didn't turn up at City Palace in the Kachi Chawni area of old city. Thereafter, the girl's family came to know about the real face of the "groom" and lodged a complaint with the Pacca Danga police station. "We sent gifts and other items worth lakhs of rupees to them on every festival after our engagement that took place on June 5, 2013. When my brothers and relatives went to their house on November 18 to perform shagun ceremony, their attitude was altogether different as they demanded a car and Rs 10 lakh as dowry from us. My father promised them a car but it made me feel that it is a curse to be born a girl on this earth," said the young woman, who is a teacher. She said, "After the arrest of the accused his family members approached us and offered Rs 8 lakh to settle the matter. I refused the offer as I want to see an exemplary punishment for the accused. We appeal the civil society to seek strictest action against Neeraj Gupta." The girl also demanded that the police should keep the accused in its custody till the completion of the investigation. |
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Govt employees hold protest for release of pending wages
Jammu, November 22 Hundreds of state government employees, ICDS workers, helpers and casual labourers of various departments, including PHE, PWD, irrigation, flood control, wildlife and soil conversation, gathered at the Press Club to protest against the government. Gafoor Ahmed Dar, state president, JKNTUF, while addressing the protesters, condemned the delaying policies of the state government, particularly the authorities of the Social Welfare Department and PHE, who have miserably failed to release of honorarium of anganwari workers, helpers and casual labours of various divisions of the state for years together. He appealed to the ministers of all the departments concerned to personally intervene in the issue. The employees demanded regularisation policy for all casual labourers, need-based and ITI-trained workers in the PHE, PWD and soil conservation departments, who have been engaged after 1994, and release of their pending wages, release of pending salary/honorarium of ICDS employees, anganwari workers and helpers, whose funds have not been released, change of designation of helpers of irrigation, flood control, wildlife and other departments as per the Cabinet decision. They also demanded the release of 10 per cent DA and enhancement of medical allowance up to Rs 1,000 per month, implementation of the agreement signed between the government and JCC, holding of DPC meeting of all the departments twice in the year and regularisation of all ad hoc and contractual employees, academic, consolidate, vocational instructors, who have completed seven years service, and enhancement of salary of academic instructors at least to the basic pay with grade pay or Rs 12,000 per month. |
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Hockey tourney from tomorrow
Jammu, November 22 While briefing the media today, Ravinder Singh Roman, general secretary of the Hockey J&K, said 16 teams, including J&K Police, Gurdaspur Hockey Club, 157 Territory Army, Baramulla Hockey Club and Poonch Hockey Club, were likely to compete in the sporting event. He added that the motive of organising the tournament was to involve and encourage the youth to participate in sports and fitness activities. |
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Past taint comes to haunt MBBS scam accused Srinagar, November 22 Peer, who has a doctorate degree in physics, was appointed as the head of the computer science department under the Vice Chancellorship of Jalees Ahmad Khan in July, 2001. The sources maintained that Peer had suggested to the KU management that the Internet facilities should be augmented — a proposal which was approved by the varsity authorities. However, Peer allegedly manipulated the computer purchase bills and was found involved in purchasing inferior quality computers for various departments. A senior faculty member at KU, wishing anonymity, said loopholes were found in the Rs 24-lakh project. “An inquiry committee was set up in KU but the probe findings were never made public. He obviously had high-profile political contacts, particularly of a senior Congress leader, which helped avert trouble for Peer. Peer had remained a controversial figure all throughout his tenure at KU,” the senior faculty member said. “There were always political pressures involved when it came to finding the truth about this man, and all such probes were subdued. A senior Congress leader, it was learnt, had pressurised the VC not to act against Peer,” the faculty member added. Some of the retired as well as current faculty members at KU who know Peer well expressed surprise over his appointment as the BOPEE chairman in 2010 by the state government, considering his “misdoings” at KU. A KU professor and social activist, Muhammad Yusuf Ganai, said senior faculty members at the university were unable to understand why Peer was appointed as the BOPEE chairman despite allegedly being involved in embezzlement at KU. “There are many allegations of fraud against Peer, including that of illegally making his wife earn an M Phil degree at KU. He had earned a bad reputation for himself,” Yusuf said. He said it came as a shock to him and many of his colleagues that Peer even after his retirement was given undue extension as the BOPEE chairman and later as IT consultant in the Service Selection Board (SSB). Peer, said highly placed sources, was now eyeing the Vice Chancellorship of either KU or the Islamic University of Sciences
and Technology (IUST), Awantipora. “He obviously never had any retirement plans. With the present VC of KU due to superannuate next year, Peer was pressurising his political connections to get the coveted post at KU,” a source disclosed.
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Intrusion bid foiled in Rajouri, soldier injured Rajouri, November 22 According to reports, three militants tried to sneak into this side of the fence during the wee hours today, but were challenged and pushed back by the alert Indian troops along the fence. Around 5 am, the inhabitants of the area heard sound of small arm firing near the 499 forward post in the Gambhir sector manned by the Jat unit, Intelligence sources said. The firing continued for more than three hours. Around 8 am, the Pakistan army also fired about seven mortar shells on the LoC. Meanwhile, a soldier received splinter injuries to his left leg when militants lobbed a grenade at our forces, sources said. “The unsuccessful intrusion bid by militants, yet again exposed the real face of the Pakistan army. They fired some mortar shells on Indian troops to facilitate the safe return of militants to their territory,” an Intelligence source said. “Pakistani soldiers from their Daku post provided covering fire to the intruders,” he said. Earlier during the intervening night of November 17 and 18, the Pakistan army with the help of the Inter-services Intelligence (ISI) and militant groups had tried to push a group of anti national elements from the Parava area. However, their attempt was foiled by the Army. Truce violation * Three militants try to sneak into the Indian side of the fence during the wee hours in the Gambhir sector on Friday *
Around 5 am, the inhabitants of the area heard sound of small arm firing near the 499 forward post *
Firing continued for more than three hours. Around 8 am, the Pakistan army also fired about seven mortar shells on the LoC *
A soldier received splinter injuries to his left leg when militants lobbed a grenade at the Army
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CM must explain why corrupt officials get extension: PDP PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the unearthing of the scam, in which former chairman of the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) Mushtaq Peer is suspected of selling question papers to candidates through a conduit, has taken the “anti-youth” policies of the Omar-led government to a “new” low. “The Chief Minister must come clean on his own role in repeated appointments of the former chairman of BOPEE,” Mehbooba said while addressing a press conference at her residence in the city here. The PDP president, who has been recently appointed as the party’s parliamentary candidate from south Kashmir’s Anantnag constituency, also alleged that corrupt officers had got a boost under the present state government. “The Chief Minister cannot escape responsibility. There are nearly 400 retired officials who have received extension, this has been done with the permission of the Chief Minister. We are amazed about the criteria (of hiring),” Mehbooba said. Peer’s post-retirement contractual appointment as a consultant with the state government had been terminated days before the scam became public. “His (Peer’s) continuation on extension in 2012 and his subsequent employment as in charge of the so-called fast track recruitment process proves that he was a darling of the government,” the PDP president said. Mehbooba said the Chief Minister “owes an explanation” for hiring “condemned retired officials”.
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834-gm stone removed from man’s bladder Srinagar, November 22 He said the patient, a resident of the Brad area, admitted to the hospital on last Tuesday and his X-ray showed an “unusually large shadow” in the bladder area. Bhat said the patient, in view of the symptoms and findings, underwent a surgery and the giant stone was removed by the open technique as the stone
was impossible to remove through endoscopic methods.
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In a unique way to register his protest against people who ‘wronged’ him, Mohammad Sultan Wali, a 76-year-old taxi driver, has found an unusual way of protesting against them. Wali has painted his old ambassador car with slogans against these people.
While talking to Tribune, Wali claims that he has registered his protest by painting his 1988 Ambassador car against a Regional Transport Officer
(RTO) who cancelled the permit of his taxi.
State government employees under the banner of the J&K National Trade Union Front protested against the state government for not releasing the pending wages and honorarium for the last more than eight months.
Hundreds of state government employees, ICDS workers, helpers and casual labourers of various departments, including
PHE, PWD, irrigation, flood control, wildlife and soil conversation, gathered at the Press Club to protest against the government.
Srinagar, November 22