|
|
|
|
|
Volunteers save the day for flood victims
Residents of Doda, Kishtwar reach south Kashmir with relief
Firms join hands with govt for relief in J&K
|
|
|
Jammu flood-hit areas allege bias in relief work
Displacement continues to haunt West Pakistan refugees in
Jammu
Vital Srinagar highway being realigned
Sadhotra, Rana interact with flood-hit in Reasi, assure all help
Now, epidemic threat biggest worry for Srinagar
Rural Development Ministry tells J-K to use VSAT at block level
DSGMC airlifts 25 flood victims to Delhi
Power dept in Jammu suffers Rs 30-crore infrastructural loss
HC Chief Justice reaches out to flood victims in Jammu
Report back on duty, Chief Secy tells staff
Flood-hit illegal colonies being rebuilt
Navodaya Vidyalayas told to meet student registration target for test
Bank spreads awareness on schemes for rural masses
Ex-MP calls for attention to Rajouri, Poonch dists
Tributes paid to Kashmiri Pandits killed by militants
Hindi Pakhwada begins at Powergrid
250 patients examined at medical camp in Simbal Schools not hit by floods to reopen tomorrow Social activist seeks speeding up of relief work at Kalakote
|
|
Volunteers save the day for flood victims
Srinagar, September 14 Students of a well-known institute in Noida, Hisham and Arsalan managed to collect medicines worth Rs 4 to 5 lakh and are now busy rescuing flood victims “We approached many for donations and contacted doctors to tell us which medicines were needed the most. They gave us a list of medicines such as insulin and ORS. Now, we are rescuing stranded persons from the flood-affected areas of Tengpora and Bemina interiors,” said Hisham. Both Arsalan and Hisham did their bit, but there are several others who have been working selflessly and volunteered to come to the aid of flood victims. “There are hundreds of such examples of locals who have been working tirelessly and selflessly. The scenes witnessed at various voluntary medical camps present a heart wrenching picture of human suffering. And to see volunteers working without any ulterior motives or desire for reward or praise is inspiring and affirms the faith in human goodness,” said Arif Ahmad, a local, who is busy contributing to the relief operations at Sanatnagar and Hyderpora areas. A whole lot of doctors can be seen offering free service at a medical camp set up in uptown areas where affected people have come to seek shelter… places like Sanatnagar Marriage Hall, Rawatpora Marriage Hall, Baghat…, he said. Those rescued by these volunteers are terming them the real saviours. “Nobody came to our rescue from the government side. We left everything behind and came here. Even now, no official has visited us. The locals here provided us food, shelter and medicine. They are our saviours and unsung heroes,” said a flood victim at the Sanatnagar Marriage Hall.
|
|
Residents of Doda, Kishtwar reach south Kashmir with relief
Jammu, September 14 The relief material was collected by the local youth of Doda district and people of the area generously donated ration, cash, blankets, clothes, medicine and other material for flood-affected areas. The process of collecting relief was still in progress and the material being sent to the Kashmir valley via the Sinthan pass. “We distributed rice, flour, pulses, blankets, medicines and drinking water among flood-affected people at Khrew in Pampore, Kainmoh in Kulgam and Batmaloo in Srinagar,” said Kashif Butt of Ghat village in Doda. He had gone to Srinagar with the relief material. Scores of other youths of the village had reached the Kashmir valley to help people in distress. Due to closure of the main Jammu-Srinagar national highway at Ramsu in Ramban district, vehicles were being sent to the Kashmir valley through Sinthan. Relief material was being sent to the Kashmir valley by air and as flood water had not receded in Srinagar. The opening of the road via Sinthan in Kishtwar was of great help to flood-affected areas of south Kashmir. “We decided to reach out to people in south Kashmir as they did not have much connectivity, either by air or road. We may not be able to reach out to everybody, but were doing our best,” Butt added. Besides reaching out to people with relief material, the volunteers had reached Srinagar to help local residents in rescuing people trapped inside their houses. Reaching out
|
|
Firms join hands with govt for relief in J&K
New Delhi, September 14 After realty house DLF, which sent out relief material to J&K on Friday, Mahindra and Mahindra, Samsung Electronics and today Hero MotoCorp Ltd gave donations to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. Contributions
While DLF sent 6,000 kg of food material to be distributed in J&K, Mahindra and Mahindra, Samsung Electronics and Hero MotoCorp together have donated Rs 7 crore towards the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. DLF Foundation, the philanthropic arm of DLF Limited, in collaboration with the Indian Air Force would in all disburse over 12,000 kg of food packets that will be air-dropped in the worst-hit areas. The first consignment of relief supplies weighing 6,000 kg was loaded on to a special Air Force aircraft on Friday. The second consignment of relief material weighing another 6,000 kg will be sent shortly. A team of DLF Foundation and its associates are also in Srinagar to assist in the relief work. Incidentally, during the Uttarakhand floods too, DLF Foundation had made generous contributions in cash and kind for the relief and rehabilitation of the victims. Lt Gen Rajender Singh, CEO of DLF Foundation, said, “The DLF group expresses solidarity with the Indian Armed Forces and other agencies for their unstinted efforts in mitigating the disaster in this hour of crisis. We also stand solidly behind the J&K Government and the Centre in their efforts to bring succour to the flood-affected population.” Hero MotoCorp Ltd, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, announced that it has contributed a sum of Rs 2 crore to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. A Hero MotoCorp spokesperson said, “We are deeply anguished by the loss and suffering of the flood-affected people of the state. As we have always taken a proactive initiative during natural calamities in the past, we stay committed to contribute additionally in any manner whatsoever if the need arises in future.” Yesterday, Mahindra and Mahindra and Samsung Electronics had donated Rs 5 crore towards the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. According to an official release issued by the PMO, the Mahindra and Mahindra Group and Samsung Electronics have donated Rs 2 crore and Rs 3 crore, respectively towards the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed on Friday to donate generously to help the people of Jammu and Kashmir in this hour of crisis. |
||
|
Jammu flood-hit areas allege bias in relief work
Jammu/Rajouri, September 14 “Flood victims who have taken shelter in tents at flood-affected Anbdrola, Badgai and Barwari areas have not received any relief from the administration,” said Ashok Sharma. “One tent was sent to Simblgala and 10-kg rice and 5-kg wheat provided to each family head in Khargala village,” said the former Kalakote MLA and Congress leader. Taking note of neglecting Poonch and Rajouri districts in relief distribution, the Rajouri BJP unit said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had been “discriminating” against flood victims in the two frontier districts. “One can understand that the situation is turning grim with each passing day in the Kashmir valley, but the Chief Minister should have shown concern towards the twin border districts as well,” said Vibodh Gupta. “People have suffered loss of lives and property in Rajouri and Poonch districts,” the state BJP vice president said. He conducted a tour of flood-hit areas with some other leaders. He said there was administrative failure in the district due to lack of coordination among government officials in distributing relief material among sufferers of the natural calamity. Anil Kumar of the old university campus area in Jammu said, “People suffered huge loss after floodwaters entered their houses on September 6. They held demonstrations, but nobody turned up with relief.” He added, “It is an irony that no district administration officer visited them for assessment of losses. The focus of the state machinery is on Kashmir. Why is the state administration discriminating against victims?” Resentment was brewing among residents of Poonch district. They alleged that they administration was not visible in flood-affected areas. Darshan Singh of Poonch said, “The victims who have lost all their belongings, but the administration has not giving them a hearing.” He added, “We are not asking the administration to stop distributing relief in the Valley. but it does not mean that people affected in Poonch and Rajouri areas should be ignored.” He further said only the armed forces had been providing relief to the affected so far. Jammu Divisional Commissioner Shantmanu was not available for comment.
|
||
|
Displacement continues to haunt West Pakistan refugees in
Jammu
Sura Chak (Tawi Island), September 14 Last week’s floods that forced residents of some villages of the Tawi island to leave their homes have refreshed memories of the Partition holocaust for Beero Devi, who was newly married at that time and was, along with her husband, forced to leave their home. Beero Devi belongs to the virtually “outcast” West Pakistani refugee community, which has faced “inhuman” and “discriminatory” policies propagated by successive governments at the state and Central levels. The community has been denied basic constitutional rights and has faced repeated displacement. “Since 1947, we have been facing displacement from one place to another, sometimes to due to the inhuman approach of the state governments and sometimes due to the nature’s fury,” rued the octogenarian, whose dream of having a stable life was shattered due to the flash floods. “From teenage to the fag end of my life, displacement continues to haunt me,” she says, while narrating how everything was washed way in the flood. Beero Devi and her family was living a “settled” life for the past twenty years in Rambagh village of the Tawi island, which comprised over 45 villages. Although these stateless refugees have been denied citizenship rights, this family was “satisfied” that they had an accommodation on a piece of land temporarily allotted to them. However, their home was completely damaged in the flood. Every section of the society has borne the brunt of the September 6 floods but the “worst” victims are families of West Pakistani refugees who were settled in Sura Chak, Sampuranpur Kullian, Rambagh, Bhotay Chak, Laxmanpur, Sumb, Toph, Mukhda, Mehta Chak and other villages of the Tawi island. As these refugees have been deprived of citizenship by the successive state governments, they fear that they would be denied compensation. “We don’t have the ownership right over our immovable properties, so there is every possibility that the state government will create hurdles in sanctioning compensation to us,” said Gain Chand, a West Pakistani refugee, who too has taken shelter in the camp. West Pakistani Refugees Action Committee chairman Labha Ram Gandhi said West Pakistani refugees were the “worst” victims of the recent floods. “Unlike other people, these refugees have been living in mud houses and so they faced maximum damage,” he said. |
||
|
Vital Srinagar highway being realigned
New Delhi, September 14 The Border Roads Organisation – a department controlled by the Ministry of Defence – has informed the ministry that creating fresh alignment is the only option as the road has washed away in patches. It will take 5-6 days more for the road to re-open as this entails cutting into the mountain slope. This target will depend on weather and with a rider that it should not rain. Landslides are one of the most frequently occurring disasters in Himalayas are not very stable. The BRO and the soldiers of the Army have been working round the clock at Ramsoo, some 172 km north of Jammu. The 38.2 km stretch of the National Highway between Ramban and Banihal suffered the biggest damage. Several bulldozers and earth movers of the BRO have been pressed into service to repair the road. The new alignment is being made in such way that it stays firm and there are no blind spots for road users. The highway will be under strain as several trucks are held up on either side of the breach. The road is now motorable beyond the Jawahar Tunnel that connects Banihal with Qazigund. When Srinagar was hit by floods, IAF planes were used to immediately ferry supplies. However, the MoD had rushed in Army food stocks to Srinagar using the Leh-Kargil-Zojila-Srinagar route. In the long run, essential commodities such as food, fruit, clothes, fuel and medicine will have to be transported through the Jammu-Srinagar route. Apple, walnut and fruit berries, a major produce of the Valley - have to reach the wholesale markets of Delhi and Mumbai to fetch a good price for the growers. The Army’s movement to the Valley and transportation of winter stocks of foodgrain for Kargil, Drass, Siachen and Leh is dependent on this road. Col SD Goswami, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, attached with the Udhampur-based Northern Command, said: “Army jawans of the 11 Sector Rashtriya Rifles along with the civil administration and the local youth made a walking track allowing on-foot movement on either side of Ramsoo.” A large number of labourers from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and other places who lost almost everything are being provided food and medicines and shifted to Jammu free of cost, Col Goswami added. At present, the BRO has some 5,700 personnel deployed in Srinagar, Rajouri and Akhnoor. Road connectivity has been restored between Batote-Anantnag; Srinagar-Sonamarg and Srinagar-Baramulla. Efforts on to restore rail line
The 137-km-long railway line connecting Banihal-Qazigund-Srinagar-Baramulla is also damaged. Senior officials in New Delhi have set a target to re-open the line as this will help transport people and goods in a major way. Sources have said it will take another five days depending on the weather conditions. |
|
Sadhotra, Rana interact with flood-hit in Reasi, assure all help
Jammu, September 14 Interacting with affected people at Reasi, after carrying out an aerial survey of the flood and landslide-hit areas across the Pir Panjal Range and Reasi and Udhampur districts, especially Mahore and Panchari, Sadhotra referred to the colossal damage caused to life, property, crops, infrastructure and utility services. He said a massive rehabilitation programme had become imperative. “As of now, the priority is to save people and ensure evacuation of marooned sufferers on an immediate basis,” Sadhotra said, adding that mega operations by multiple agencies are currently going on across the state. He said putting back life on tracks was being given focus, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah himself monitoring the rescue and relief measures. He said health and hygiene was another challenge that was being addressed on an urgent basis to avert diseases. Rana exhorted the people to be united and meet the challenge by rising above party politics. “The catastrophe has shaken the state and we have to face it unitedly and collectively,” he said. The NC provincial president told the party workers and functionaries to convert all units at the grass-roots level into relief and rescue centres and reach out to the needy and provide all necessary assistance. He said the people and the administration had to work in tandem to meet the situation. Giving an overview of the rescue and relief operations undertaken so far, Rana stressed the need for strengthening the hands of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who is monitoring the situation and ensuring the rescue of people from marooned areas. He said all resources were required to be pooled to overcome the challenge posed by the natural calamity. |
|
Now, epidemic threat biggest worry for Srinagar
Srinagar, September 14 Most of the property stands completely or partially damaged in the flood-ravaged areas. The biggest problem now is neither loss of property or of people who have left for good but of the threat of epidemic for it’s over 12 lakh people in Srinagar. As water continues to remain stagnant even after eight days, with animal carcasses, human and animal excreta and garbage inside, experts fear an epidemic in the coming days if necessary measures are not taken immediately. Noted gastroenterologist of the Valley Dr Showkat Zargar, who is the head of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar, said: “The water stagnation problem is very serious. We have fears of diseases such as gastroenteritis, dysentery, typhoid, pneumonia and cholera. The diseases are more likely to affect children and elderly. People should drink boiled water or treated water.” “The government should immediately swing into action to restore the drinking water supply in the flood-affected areas,” said Zargar. Saiqa Khan, a doctor seeing patients at a camp at the Hyderpora bypass in Srinagar, said: “Most of the cases we are receiving are of diarrhoea. As people are away from their homes and have no way to boil water, we suspect that most of the cases are due to dirty drinking water. We need a lot of chlorine tablets so that water can be disinfected quickly and there will be no need for boiling it.” “The water from wells should not be consumed directly. I request people not to use medicine, food (including canned items) and water that had contact with the floodwaters. People should seek necessary medical care and not neglect minor wounds or illnesses,” said a health expert who is currently working to prevent any epidemic in the Valley. The worst-hit areas of Srinagar include Jawahar Nagar, Maisuma, Gogji Bagh, Mehjoor Nagar, Bemina, Qamarwari and Lal Chowk. People in these areas are advised to take necessary precautions as these areas are most vulnerable, said experts. Mohsin janwari, a civil engineer at the IIT Delhi said, “The city of over 12 lakh people is stinking. The most important thing at this point is dewatering. Non-clog submersible pumps should be procured on a war footing basis to prevent any outbreak of epidemic. The horsepower of pumps should be high, preferably more than 10 HP, so that the water is drained fast. Small pumps do not prove effective when the quantity of water is huge.” A team of J&K ministers, led by Finance minister Abdul Rahim Rather, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi yesterday and requested for heavy duty industrial pumps for dewatering. The team also forwarded a Rs 2,200-crore flood management plan to the Centre for approval.
|
||
|
Rural Development Ministry tells J-K to use VSAT at block level
Jammu, September 14 VSAT is a small telecommunication earth station that receives and transmits real-time data via a satellite. It transmits narrow and broadband signals to orbital satellites. The data from the satellites is then transmitted to different hubs in other The satellite sends and receives signals from an earth station, which acts as the hub for the system. The Ministry has also issued an advisory to the state government to make use of Common Service Centre (CSC) for NREGASoft. It maintained that blocks without connectivity will be considered for VSAT connectivity by it. Sources said the state government had identified some blocks which either had no IT connectivity or no broadband connection. It has requested the Ministry to provide connectivity using VSAT for maintaining the programme database (NREGASoft). To integrate these blocks, the Ministry has decided that the blocks will be connected through VSATs. The state government has been told by the Ministry to start the process of VSAT procurement and installation so that it could be completed before December 2014 in all blocks. The locations will be declared as Common Service Centres (CSCs). The state government has been instructed to provide necessary space and power connection for enabling setting up of VSATs and CSCs at identified blocks. NREGAsoft is a local language-enabled workflow based e-Governance system and is available in offline and online mode to capture all activities under NREGA at the Centre/state/district/block and the panchayat level. NREGAsoft envisions facilitating e-Governance by enabling IT-based implantation of the NREGA scheme across the state, district and the panchayats. It envisages empowering the common man using information technology as a facilitator. It provides information to a citizen in compliance with the Right to Information Act. It makes available all documents such as muster rolls, registration application register, job card/employment register/muster roll issue register, muster roll receipt
register which are inaccessible to the public otherwise. The system facilitates faster information exchange between various stakeholders through the network. What is VSAT...
VSAT is a small telecommunication earth station that receives and transmits real-time data via a satellite. It transmits narrow and broadband signals to orbital satellites. The data from the satellites is then transmitted to different hubs in other locations. The satellite sends and receives signals from an earth station, which acts as the hub for the system. E-connectivity
|
|
DSGMC airlifts 25 flood victims to Delhi
New Delhi, September
14 She along with 20 other people and four children was brought from Srinagar to Delhi by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee
(DSGMC). The DSGMC has also been sending relief material for 1 lakh flood victims in Jammu and Kashmir everyday for the past eight
days. Kamalprit Kaur, another victim who was brought by the DSGMC, said she was helped by the Army to come out of the floodwater. Later, she came to Gurdwara Shaheed Bunga where she got registered her name with the gurdwara management committee to go to Delhi where her brother lived. The air fare was paid by the gurdwara
committee. Suman Prasad, who lived in Bhiman in Srinagar, said his quarter was inundated by floodwater. He was on the second floor. He said when he saw that the water level was rising, he jumped into the floodwater and swam out. He came to Delhi with the help of the
DSGMC. Suman said as all his belongings, including money, were washed away in the water, he had nothing to eat. He came to know about the relief camp in a gurdwara where he reached and got relief. Besides, Sukhvinder Singh, Surjeet Kumar and Balbir Kumar, who were working as carpenters in Alchi Bagh in Srinagar, were also brought by DSGMC volunteers to Delhi. They said they were saved by the Army men.
DSGMC president Manjit Singh (GK) and general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the committee had deployed boats and divers to rescue the flood victims. Senior Akali Dal leader BS Ramoowalia said the gurdwara committee was helping all flood victims and not just Sikhs. |
|
|
Power dept in Jammu suffers Rs 30-crore infrastructural loss
Jammu, September 14 “We are still in the process of compiling the figures related to damages caused to our infrastructure. As per the available data, the assessed losses are estimated to be around Rs 30 crore and these may go up as our teams are yet to reach the inaccessible areas,” said Shehnaz Goni, Chief Engineer, PDD (M&RE) Jammu. She said the engineers of the department were working round the clock to restore the power supply and had been able to restore 80 per cent of the supply so far. “Nearly 20 per cent of the people are still without power. There are some inaccessible areas where it may take more than a week to restore power supply,” she said. The Chief Engineer said she had taken up the matter with the quarters concerned for immediate release of funds so that they could complete the restoration work soon. The department said about 964 transformers had been damaged in the floods across the Jammu region comprising 10 districts. The department has engaged at least 14 private firms for repairing damaged transformers. Besides, more than 4,600 electric poles, including big towers, have either been uprooted or washed away in the floods and landslides. In Jammu district alone, more than 350 transformers have been damaged or washed away following the floods last week. The department claimed that the private firms would be able to repair all damaged transformers in the next two weeks. PDD suffers damage
|
|
|
HC Chief Justice reaches out to flood victims in Jammu
Jammu, September 14 Justice Kumar, who is also the patron-in-chief of the J&K State Legal Services Authority (J&K
SLSA), was accompanied by Virender Singh, Judge, Jammu and Kashmir High Court, and executive chairman, Jammu and Kashmir
SLSA. During the visit, some flood-affected people apprised the judges of their problems. They were asked to visit the Legal Aid Clinics opened there for them by the J&K
SLSA. The Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs), who are working 24 hours in the temporary Legal Aid Clinics, were directed to forward the grievances of the victims or families to the district administration. The core group, headed by Prem
Sagar, Additional Mobile Magistrate, Jammu, was directed to ensure immediate help of government and non-government agencies to flood-affected victims and coordinate with different departments of the government and NGOs for providing immediate relief material to victims. He was also directed to supervise the distribution of relief material to victims and the construction of temporary shelters, besides supervising health care and sanitation facilities to the victims to prevent the spread of
epidemics amongst in these areas. The duo also distributed blankets and clothes to the flood victims. Kumar also directed Shahnaz
Akhter, Assistant Commissioner (G), Jammu, to ensure provision of blankets, potable drinking water, water tanks, medical facilities, eatables among other things to the victims. |
|
|
Report back on duty, Chief Secy tells staff
Jammu, September 14 Telecommunication services were yet to be restored in the Kashmir valley and there was no idea about many employees trapped in the floods. Families of government employees posted in Kashmir stood on the main gate of the Air Force station in Jammu on Sunday evening, hoping that their next of kin would be rescued. An official handout carried the Chief Secretary’s message. “The Chief Secretary has conveyed the message to all government employees to report to duty to mitigate problems of the people in this time of crisis, otherwise action shall be initiated,” the handout stated. Employees from the Jammu region posted in Kashmir were mulling a strategy to oppose the move of the government to forcibly call them to Srinagar without proper arrangements. Civil Secretariat employees convened a meeting in Jammu for Monday. There was resentment because the government did not take any step to rescue them when a majority of them were trapped in floodwaters. |
|
NO LESSONS LEARNT Tribune News Service
Jammu, September 14 Most of the houses damaged in Gorkha Nagar, Qasim Nagar, Bahu Fort, Kacca Talab and Pacca Talab of Bahu Fort, Karayni Talab, Doongian, Sainik Colony, Vidyata Nagar, Gujjar colony and Beli Charana were constructed illegally on the banks of the river and in some cases, even the river bed has been taken over by the encroachers. Recently, Minister for Revenue Raman Bhalla along with Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) commissioner Kiran Wattal surveyed the damaged residential colonies and directed the officials to start the repair of roads, power infrastructure and ensure provision of drinking water. “Nobody is against providing relief to the affected families. They have suffered, but the government should discourage construction in illegal colonies. An investigation should be launched to find out who brought them there, knowing fully that it is a flood-prone area,” said a resident of Bagwati Nagar. However, the government seems to be making half-hearted attempts to stop the the mafia. “We have asked people to avoid encroachment on the nallah land, saying such practices are dangerous for their properties. This will encourage them to vacate land voluntarily for the safety of their private property,” said the minister. In recent years, the drive against illegal encroachments has become a lost battle, as pressure is being exerted not to evict people and whatever action has been taken is facing resistance. Hundreds of acres of land worth crores of rupees transferred to the authority by the government is under illegal occupation of Gujjars and people who have migrated from other districts of the state, particularly from Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and some areas of the Kashmir valley.
|
|
Navodaya Vidyalayas told to meet student registration target for test
Jammu, September 14 Sources said the target of the body was to increase the registration of girls and students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minority communities by at least 10 per cent as compared to the previous year. They added that various initiatives had already been taken to achieve the target. “Detailed instructions for the increase in registration and publicity for the JNVST have been conveyed to the regional office and schools. The District Magistrates of all the districts having JNVs have been requested to take personal interest in increasing the registration of students for the test. “A copy of this letter was also sent to Principals of all JNVs with a request to personally meet the District Collectors and seek their cooperation for publicity,” a statement of the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti claimed. The body has instructed the regional office and the Principals of JNVs to contact local Doordarshan offices and radio stations for the publicity of the test. It added that sincere efforts were required to achieve the target as about two months were left for the submission of applications for the JNVST 2015. Sources claimed that the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti has asked the Principals to personally contact sarpanches and panches of villages to apprise them of the scheme and distribute application forms for eligible candidates. “Approach youth clubs and other social organisations to encourage parents to send their wards to study at JNVs. School alumni can be also be contacted to publicise about the examination. Meetings should be convened at all levels wherein teaching and non-teaching staff should discuss and prepare an extensive action plan to attract maximum registration,” a statement of the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti read. Instructions have also been issued for Principals to hold meetings with District Education Officers and other officials concerned in September-October every year for a mid-term assessment of the registration process. The idea aims at identifying areas which need to be concentrated on and crossing hurdles in the achievement of these targets. |
|
Bank spreads awareness on schemes for rural masses
Jammu, September 13 Ram Murti Sharma, chief coordinator, Mahesh Farmers Club, who was the chief guest on the occasion, inaugurated the programme on financial inclusion. The branch head of Jammu and Kashmir Grameen Bank,
Sarore, Ram Pal Sharma, presided over the function. A large number of people, including those from adjoining villages, attended the camp. Speaking on the occasion, Ram Pal Sharma highlighted the salient features of the scheme for financial empowerment of rural families. He also talked about the initiatives taken by the bank for credit outflow in various activities for setting up economic units to augment the income and overall development of rural people through institutional credit. He asked the people to avail benefits of schemes including Western Union Money Transfer Facility, Real-Time Gross Settlement, Account Portability, Kisan Credit Card facility, loans for Self-Help Groups etc. Mukesh
Sagotra, assistant manager of the bank branch, also highlighted the policies and programmes of the bank for facilitating the financial inclusion. He urged upon people to avail various loan facilities. He asked the unemployed youth to take advantage of different schemes initiated by the bank in order to earn their
livelihood. Sagar Singh, sarpanch, Sarore village, numberdar Avtar Singh and other prominent people of the area were also present on the occasion. Financial literacy camp
Officials of Jammu and Kashmir Grameen Bank urged upon people to avail various loan facilities. He asked the unemployed youth to take advantage of different schemes initiated by the bank |
|
|
Ex-MP calls for attention to Rajouri, Poonch dists
Jammu September 14 Sharma accompanied by Kuldeep Raj Verma, vice-chairman, OBC; Shabir Ahmed Khan, former Health Minister; Chaudhary Akram, senior Congress leader; and others were on a four-day tour of Rajouri and poonch districts. Sharma said floods and landslides had caused extensive devastation in the districts. He demanded more focus of the Central and state governments on the districts as “no help” had reached the internal cut-off areas so far. Sharma also sought immediate restoration of the internal road connectivity so that relief could reach people. “I have visited some camps at Mandi, Surankote Haveli, Thanamandi, Rajouri and other affected places i.e. Sathra, Galoti , Bufliaz, Potha, Daheri Layote, Behrote, BG, Thanamandi, Manjakote, Chingus, Nowshera, Lam Pata Rajpura, Thandapani and Sunderbani. Some camps are supported by the government and some by the community but the facilities are inadequate and people are suffering,” Sharma said. He said people immediately needed food and items such as tents, tarpaulin sheets, utensils, warm cloths and blankets. He said massive damage had been caused to schools and children’s uniform, books and shoes had either been washed away or destroyed. He said there was much more damage of houses, property and cattle than that projected by the administrations so far. |
|
Tributes paid to Kashmiri Pandits killed by militants
Jammu, September 14 Pandits remembered community leaders, who were killed by militants leading to the exodus of the community. He said the situation that has arisen due to heavy floods was also a serious challenge that needed to be addressed on a war footing. The exemplary contribution of the Indian security forces and other connected agencies in rescuing people and providing them relief material should be complimented, he said. “The Army has set examples of humanitarian aid programmes worldwide and is second to none in the protection of the human rights of people in misery. The employees staying at different camps and students belonging to the Jammu region need to be taken out of the flood-hit city of Srinagar immediately so as to end the anguish of people here,” said HN Jattu, president, All India Kashmiri Pandit Conference (AIKPC). He said there should be no regional bias in the provision of relief and rehabilitation measures. “Sacrifices of our community members give us inspiration to remain devoted to our national commitments. Moreover, the community has risen to several challenges in two and a half decades of struggle in exile,” said Ashwani Chrangoo, president, Panun Kashmir.
|
|
|
Hindi Pakhwada begins at Powergrid
Jammu, September 14 He called upon officials to organise Hindi workshops from time to time and motivate employees to work in the National Language. Other senior officials also spoke on the importance of Hindi in the day-to-day work. On the occasion, the yearly Hindi magazine, “Tawi Pravah”, was also released by senior
officers. Hindi Pakhwada is being organised at all site offices of the region comprising Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. A number of programmes such as essay writing competition, poetry recitation, debates in Hindi have been scheduled during the fortnight for the employees and their families. |
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Soon after receiving the news of havoc caused by the floods in Kashmir, Hisham Ahmad and Syed Arsalan booked their tickets to the Valley to offer their bit of service to the affected people.
Amid rescue and relief operations in the Kashmir valley, flood victims in Jammu have accused the administration of adopting a discriminatory approach in distribution of material.
Political parties have joined the victims in criticising the state government for allegedly ignoring flood-affected areas while airlifting and distributing relief in the state.
Kuldeep Kaur, who was marooned in Srinagar for the past many days, started weeping as soon as she landed and met her sister at the IGI airport here saying that the situation in flood-affected Srinagar is pathetic.
“There is no help from the state government to rescue the victims,” she added.
Jammu, September 14
Jammu, September 14
