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Tuesday,
May 20, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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NEWS ANALYSIS
Mufti inspects school Primary schools to get third teacher |
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Tradition revived, Mufti style Union minister visits Doda Accountability panel
a non-starter National integration camp concludes
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NEWS ANALYSIS Jammu, May 19 Ms Mehbooba after taking over from Finance Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Beig, as PDP President, decided to visit border districts of Poonch and Rajouri to “heal the wounds of people and to create a party’s base. Ms Mehbooba, daughter of Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, reached here today on a three-day tour of Poonch and Rajouri districts. During these days she would address rallies at seven places and spend evenings with civilians and party workers. On her first tour of the Jammu region as PDP President more than 6,000 people were present, despite hot sun at a rally near Satwari today. In the past six months Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and his daughter visited Poonch and Rajouri districts more than six times indicating that the father and daughter want party’s base in these two border districts. To enrol people of these two border areas as members of the PDP the Chief Minister turned down the suggestion of the Army authorities on the evacuation of villagers living close to the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts so that there was no difficulty for anti-insurgency operations. The Chief Minister is said to have told Army authorities that “the border villagers were patriotic and acted as sentinel of our borders.” Before leaving for Rajouri and Poonch Ms Mehbooba told newsmen that the Government “will not give up its healing touch policy.” Referring to the killing of six civilians by militants in Rajouri today she said “if civilians are killed by militants why should we withdraw our healing touch policy.” She said “those who have suffered on account of 13-year-long turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir deserved a healing touch. To a question Ms Mehbooba said “the resumption of India-Pakistan dialogue will and bloodshed in Kashmir.” The peace initiative from Delhi, reciprocated by Islamabad, was a good development and vindicated our stand, “she said adding that the PDP, even before it gained power, was in favour of talks and negotiations between India and Pakistan. The PDP President said that confidence building measures initiated by Delhi and Islamabad and the desire for friendship and dialogue are very good for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.” She said “I hope the bilateral talks are opened shortly so that bloodshed in the state ended.” On reports of missing civilians and custodial killings she said that the Government was examining these reports and wherever it was established that innocent civilians had been killed in the custody of the police or the security forces stern action will be taken against the ‘erring’ officials. She said the kin of the deceased would be provided with healing touch by way of jobs and ex-gratia relief. On her priorities as the PDP chief she said “help to the downtrodden people is my first priority.” She said “the government is committed to tackle the problem of unemployment.” She said “We have been incapacitated by the way the former National Conference Government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Centre under which no jobs were to be created in future. She said despite this memorandum of understanding the coalition government was on the job of creating employment avenues for the educated youth. |
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Mufti inspects school Srinagar, May 19 An alumnus of the school, the Mufti told the Education Department authorities to identify bright students in secondary classes of the institution for giving them coaching, counselling and other support to hone their bright talent for academic excellence. Favouring upgradation of science laboratories, introduction of IT and commerce subjects, he recalled that when he was in this school in 1951-52, he had desired to study science but could not do so as the school did not have this stream then. Stressing on the promotion of sports in the school, the Chief Minister asked the authorities to organize sports club and competitions for which he had provided Rs 1 lakh grant. Minister of State for Education Syed Bashir Ahmed said that education was an important factor for development of the personality of an individual and added that Mufti Sayeed was keen on promoting it. “He takes care even of small things so that students of the state are groomed well to face the challenges of future”, he added. At Government Degree College for Boys, Anantnag, the Chief Minister inaugurated post-graduate class in English and Department of Computer Sciences. The Chief Minister stressed the need of starting post-graduate classes in the disciplines in the college where infrastructure existed and students demanded it. He said instead of limited post-graduate seats on the university campus, the government was opening these classes at colleges in districts for the convenience of the students. These facilities have been provided at S P College, Government College for Women, M. A. Road, Srinagar, Baramula and Leh in Kashmir division. Similar facility was being provided in Jammu division also, he added. Mufti Sayeed also visited Brakpora where the Central Government has opened a Kendriya Vidyalya on his persuasion. The school at present is housed in a rural development department building, the Central Government will construct a new complex for it at a cost of Rs. 3.50 crore. Interacting with the staff and students, the Chief Minister was informed that the school had evoked good response. As many as 1200 applications forms were received for admission, 243 students were admitted from class I to VIII. Later, students will be enrolled up to class XII. Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Shailender Kumar told the Chief Minister that a parents’ committee had been formed for regulating bus service for students. |
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Primary schools to get third teacher Srinagar, May 19 The Cabinet, which met here today under the chairmanship of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, also created 100 posts of teacher for those primary schools which had been upgraded to middle schools during the last financial year. Announcing the decisions the Chief Secretary, Dr Sudhir S. Bloeria, said the Cabinet had also set up a selection committee comprising the Director, School Education, Chief Education Officer and Principal, District Institute of Education and Training, in this regard. The Chief Secretary said the provision of the third teacher for 10,179 primary schools has been made under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan under which 75 per cent of the expenses on wages shall be borne by the Centre and 25 per cent by the state government during the tenth Plan and in the ratio of 50.50 during the eleventh Plan. The Centre has also agreed to share the cost beyond 10 years. By another decision the Cabinet created a special PH division at Kulgam with two subdivisions at Kulgam and Damhal Hanjipora. The Chief Secretary said the Cabinet also approved the transfer of Controller, Weights and Measures, along with the entire staff and Budget from the Revenue Department to the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department. The Commissioner/Secretary, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department would be ex-officio Controller of Weights and Measures Department under Section 5 of the Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1978. By another decision the promotion of Mr G.R. Dar, Joint Director, Project Officer, Baghi-i-Bahu, Jammu, as Director, Floriculture has also been approved. The promotion will be effected from January 1. |
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Tradition revived, Mufti style Srinagar, May 19 Mufti Sayeed inspected education, health and other institutions, besides inaugurating two irrigation schemes. At several places they stopped his vehicle to apprise him of their problems and he reciprocated the enthusiasm by issuing on the spot instructions. The Chief Minister inaugurated the Semthan lift irrigation scheme near Bijbehara, which will irrigate 600 acres at Semthan, Hanzapora and Tulkhum villages. The project would be constructed at a cost of Rs 84 lakh. He also inaugurated the Wranahal lift irrigation scheme. While inspecting the Rs 70-crore Tral lift irrigation scheme the Chief Minister ordered the allotment of sufficient funds for expediting the delayed project’s completion. In case of paucity of funds for the scheme institutional funding would be arranged, he added. Mufti Sayeed also inspected the district hospital, Anantnag. He went round the complex and enquired from patients about the medical facilities available there. The town will soon have a new 300-bedded district hospital complex that will be constructed at a cost of Rs 65 crore. Earlier, Mufti Sayeed visited the 30-bedded sub-district hospital at Bijbehara. He also visited Achhabal, which was once a popular tourist resort. Later, addressing the people at Kulgam, the Chief Minister announced several projects.
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Union minister visits Doda Jammu, May 19 He said by organising such senseless killings, the mentors of terrorists sitting across the border wanted to keep the pot of militancy boiling. Professor Gupta urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir to cooperate with the security forces in wiping out militancy from the state. The minister was addressing various delegations during his visit to Doda district today. He asked the people of the district not to migrate in the wake of renewed militant threats but advised them to cooperate with Army, security forces and village defence committees in meeting the challenge of militants. Referring to the healing touch policy of the state government, Professor Gupta said the healing touch should be for the victims of militancy and not for militants. He lamented that due to this policy, many militants had been set free which was a cause of concern. Earlier, the Union Minister reviewed the security situation of Doda district at a meeting with the Army brass stationed in the district. He was briefed by the Brigade commander about the general operations carried out by the Army to wipe out militants from the district. He was informed that in the past two months, the Army had gunned down record number of 92 militants in the district. |
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Accountability panel
a non-starter Srinagar, May 19 None of the Supreme Court judges has accepted the offer to head the Commission so far, official sources said here today. The Commission was set up soon after the coalition government headed by Mr Mufti Mohammad Sayeed took over in November last year. A select committee on Accountability Commission Bill met here today to discuss amendments to be incorporated in the Act, the sources said. The meeting was presided over by the Finance, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Muzaffar Hussain Baig. The committee discussed amendments regarding appointment and removal of the chairperson of the Commission, the sources said.
PTI |
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National integration camp concludes Kurukshetra, May 19 Over 150 boys and girls from 15 states, including Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Kerala, Assam, Goa, Haryana, Mizoram, Gujarat and Bihar, got a lesson of unity in diversity. The participants said the feeling of national integration was strengthened at such camps and the youth from different states got to know about the culture and lifestyle of one another. |
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