J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Gurbachan Jagat to be BSF chief
JAMMU, Nov 22 — The Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, will take over charge as DG, BSF, from Mr E.N. Mohan Rao, on November 30 after the latter’s retirement.

AIDS drive to focus on men
JAMMU, Nov 22 — In connection with World AIDS Day, the Jammu and Kashmir State AIDS Prevention and Control Society will hold functions, rallies, debates, workshops and seminars on December 1 in various parts of the state.

Peace may follow ceasefire: Farooq
JAMMU, Nov 22 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today said that the unilateral ceasefire by the Prime Minister had generated hope for the early restoration of peace in the state and a change in the public mood is discernible.

Kashmiri, Dogri to be taught in schools
JAMMU, Nov 22 — Kashmiri, Dogri and Bodhi will be introduced in all government and private schools in the state at elementary level.

Gurbachan Jagat to be BSF chief
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Nov 22 — The Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, will take over charge as DG, BSF, from Mr E.N. Mohan Rao, on November 30 after the latter’s retirement.

Mr Jagat who had been deputed to head the police in the troubled Jammu and Kashmir state in February 1997 had succeeded in revamping the police force in the state. The police had been demoralised between 1990 and 1996 after scores of police and intelligence officials had been eliminated by militants.

Mr Jagat had taken bold steps as police chief to strengthen the police force and as a result of these the police had started taking on the militants separately. Under his supervision the number of Village Defence Committees and Special Police Officers also increased. He was instrumental in motivating the Union Home Ministry in releasing funds for the modernisation of police force in the state.

According to sources the Centre had decided to give the charge of DG, BSF, to Mr Jagat, only three days ago. Earlier, the name of Mr Ajay Raj Sharma, Delhi Police Commissioner, had been cleared for the post and only Cabinet nod was awaited. According to the sources, the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, also played a key role in enabling Mr Jagat to bag the post.

Commenting on his new posting Mr Jagat said he was happy as it would “allow me to maintain my links with Jammu and Kashmir”.

He said whether as Police Chief or as DG BSF “my aim is to see that peace and normalcy are restored in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Meanwhile, the DG Maharashtra, is likely to take over as DGP in the state. The Union Home Ministry has decided to consult the Chief Minister before taking a final decision in this regard.

AIDS drive to focus on men
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 22 — In connection with World AIDS Day, the Jammu and Kashmir State AIDS Prevention and Control Society will hold functions, rallies, debates, workshops and seminars on December 1 in various parts of the state.

According to Mr Ashok Parmar, project director of the society, the first year of a two-year campaign focusing on the role of men in AIDS prevention has been titled “Men make a difference”.

The three broad objectives of the campaign, according to Mr Parmar, are to motivate men and women to talk openly about sex, sexuality, drug use and HIV/AIDS to encourage men to take care of themselves, their partners and their families and to conduct programmes in this regard.

According to UNAIDS, there are two main reasons for focusing the world AIDS campaign on men. Firstly, men’s health has received inadequate attention so far. Secondly, the behaviour of men puts them at greater risk of HIV infection.

The most important reason why men need to give greater consideration to AIDS is that it affects the entire family.

According to UNAIDS, men need to talk about their sexual needs and should shun cultural barriers to initiate public discussions of sexual matters.

Men should be encouraged to take care of their health, for men have a lower life expectancy than women. 

Peace may follow ceasefire: Farooq
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 22 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today said that the unilateral ceasefire by the Prime Minister had generated hope for the early restoration of peace in the state and a change in the public mood is discernible.

People want peace and need for normalcy is gaining momentum, notwithstanding the negative reaction by a few Pro-Pakistan militant groups, Dr Abdullah told Lord Eric Avebury, a member of British Parliament, who called on him here.

The cult of violence had brought miseries to the people who want an end to the gun culture, he said, adding that the overwhelming support, by a cross-section of people including those close to Hurriyat leader to the ceasefire is reflective of the need for peace.

‘‘Some vested interests would never want peace to return because they would not have any takers once normalcy returned to the state’’, he said.

Kashmiri, Dogri to be taught in schools
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 22 — Kashmiri, Dogri and Bodhi will be introduced in all government and private schools in the state at elementary level.

The state Cabinet which met the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, here yesterday, approved the proposal in principle.

Briefing the decisions of the Cabinet, the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitley, said teaching of these regional languages would be compulsory and schools not following this decision would be de-recognised. These regional languages would be introduced in the schools of the region concerned.

He said measures would also be taken to introduce other regional languages like Gojri and Pahari in schools of the areas concerned.

Mr Jaitley said the Cabinet had asked the Education Department to formulate an action plan.