J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

J&K in for IT revolution
JAMMU, Jan 2 — The dominant role the Information Technology (IT) in the new millennium has not left the Jammu and Kashmir Government untouched. It has launched an ambitious programme to promote IT in the state.

Curfew imposed on Kishtwar
JAMMU, Jan 2 — The police and paramilitary forces today enforced curfew restrictions which were imposed on Kishtwar yesterday. The security forces patrolled the town to ensure no one indulged in violence.

Urban Haat to be set up in Srinagar
JAMMU, Jan 2 — The state government proposes to set up an Urban Haat in Srinagar to provide infrastructural facilities to artisans to market their handicrafts directly to consumers at remunerative prices.

J&K in for IT revolution
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 2 — The dominant role the Information Technology (IT) in the new millennium has not left the Jammu and Kashmir Government untouched. It has launched an ambitious programme to promote IT in the state.

To demystify the usage of computers, the government has provided hardware to various departments and organised training programmes for its functionaries so that they could become well-versed in handling computer hardware and software for office automation. So far, 1600 officials have been trained in computers. Several more steps are underway to increase computer awareness among government officials at various levels. In the first phase, 100 per cent computer awareness will be achieved in the secretariat by 2001 under the plan.

In the first phase itself, stress has also been laid on the implementation of e-governance in Health and Medical Education, Power Development, Works, Transport, Food and Supplies and Rural Development Departments. Besides local area networking of the secretariat, the work on it will be completed in the Jammu Secretariat by November this year while in the Srinagar Secretariat it will be taken up immediately thereafter.

The Finance Department, however, has been made the primary focus area for the introduction of e-governance. While the Excise Department has computerised check post at Lakhanpur, the process for computerisation of Sales Tax and Accounts and Treasury Department is in progress.

The government has also commissioned a feasibility study for creating a state-wide area network for communication online with the farthest corners of the state. On completion, this facility could be used not only by the departments and government service providers alone but also by the residents large.

Initially, the implementation of IT was restricted to establishing connectivity that is laying of local area network in the secretariat and facilitating the setting up of wide area networks/ intranets all over the state.

Setting up standards for operating software and hardware as well as imparting training to the staff was also planned.

But gradually the IT network was decided to be extended in other areas for aiming at promoting the IT culture all over the state.

The importance given to promotion of IT in Jammu and Kashmir is evident from the fact that a technical cell Information Technology unit has been created under the direct control of Chief Minister’s office for building formalised systems for information flow. A high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary has also been constituted for regularly monitoring the progress on the implementation of IT in the state.

Curfew imposed on Kishtwar
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 2 — The police and paramilitary forces today enforced curfew restrictions which were imposed on Kishtwar yesterday.

The security forces patrolled the town to ensure no one indulged in violence.

The curfew was imposed when a group of youths torched two liquor shops and a jeep belonging to the SDM last evening. They were protesting against a fire that had destroyed a mosque in the town.

The demonstrators also clashed with the police. The government said investigations had revealed that the mosque caught fire due to a short circuit. Senior civil and police officers had rushed to the disturbed town and additional forces were sent from Doda and Batota to maintain law and order.

Official sources said separatists tried to exploit the situation by spreading rumours that the mosque was set on fire by some anti-social elements belonging to another community.

Senior officers convened a meeting of prominent citizens belonging to both communities, requesting them to clear the misunderstanding regarding the incident. The officers said some anti-national agencies were trying to destabilise peace and if these agencies were not silenced, they could create problems in other areas of Doda district.

The police said no untoward incident was reported today. People remained indoors and bus services and life were paralysed because of the curfew.

Night curfew will remain in force.

Urban Haat to be set up in Srinagar
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 2 — The state government proposes to set up an Urban Haat in Srinagar to provide infrastructural facilities to artisans to market their handicrafts directly to consumers at remunerative prices.

This was stated by the Industries and Commerce Minister, Dr Mustafa Kamaal, while discussing the contours of the project at a meeting held here yesterday. The Director of Industries and Commerce, Mr M. Saleem Beig, was also present at the meeting.

The estimated cost of the project was Rs 1.72 crore, to be funded by the Centre and the state government on a 70:30 share basis. One such Urban Haat at Jammu had already been approved by the Centre, Dr Kamaal said.

The minister said the proposed Haat would be set up at the Exhibition Ground in Srinagar, considered to be an ideal location for tourists to buy world-famous handicrafts of the state.

The Haat will be developed over 2 acres of land and include 60 stalls, an exhibition hall, a pavilion and a conference room.