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Dying Cooperatives
Lifetime award for Dr Billorea
Nod to Shiv Khori Shrine Bill
Oppn walkouts over staff crunch in revenue dept
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Alarm bells for Army
Cops Halt Muharram Procession
Election will revolve around performance: Mehbooba
Residents seek revival of Namak Road
Police vehicle rams into auto,
Training camp for MOs
Weather hits air traffic
Water Shortage
1 killed in house collapse
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Dying Cooperatives
Jammu, January 18 Fielding media queries in a press briefing here today, Zargar said, “Not only political interference would be checked but deadwoods would also be removed.” “Efforts have been initiated to revive cooperative sector and restructuring would be done so that cooperatives serve their purpose in the state,” he added. The PDP veteran further said, “We are starting afresh and losses are being recovered from the defaulters and the process would be intensified.” Admitting that some of the cooperative societies have been running into losses, he said, “In some cases employees of loss making societies have not been getting their salaries but the government has drawn a course of line to convert such societies into profit making ones.” “Things would take some time to improve,” he added. “It gives me immense pleasure in announcing that the state government has accepted Prof Vaidyanathan committee report for recapitalisation of cooperative credit institutions and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has approved it,” said Zargar. He admitted that Anantnag Cooperative Bank and Jammu Central Cooperative Bank had certain “problems,” which have been addressed. However, he also tried to paint a rosy picture of cooperative banks. “The state has nine cooperative banks with their focus on promotion of agriculture and horticulture. Four among them keep on providing short term agriculture credit and allied lending in the state,” he added. He further said, “The cooperative banks with a business turnover of Rs 20 billion are operating in the state with a network of 203 branches having 1,730 employees.”
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Lifetime award for Dr Billorea
Jammu, January 18 Speaking at a function held to confer Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Awards organised by the Quality Assurance Directorate of Jammu University (JU) in the campus, the Governor said honouring achievers provided impetus to others to emulate. He said when he inaugurated the quality assurance cell sometime back, he was somehow sceptical about its functioning but now “I feel such a mechanism is necessary for the pursuit of excellence”. He added that in the odyssey of excellence, the university had been crossing milestone after milestone. He also lauded the role of vice-chancellor Prof Amitabh Mattoo and his team. The Governor expressed his happiness over the growth of the School of Biotechnology, the building complex of which had been completed under the Prime Minister's package. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Mattoo said honouring achievers was duty of the civil society as their achievements opened up new vistas for progress and development. He lamented that achievements were observed and honoured in silence, while the failures of others were highlighted publicly. “This mindset has to be changed”, he maintained. Former chief secretary, Dr S.S. Billorea, upon whom the lifetime award was conferred, said it was second the occasion for him to receive any award which generally he had been avoiding. He said he had nurtured an ambition during the midst of his administrative career to become a teacher. |
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Nod to Shiv Khori Shrine Bill
Jammu, January 18 The Bill was tabled for consideration by the minister of state for law and parliamentary affairs, Manjit Singh. However, amendment by National Conference (NC) legislator Ajay Sadhotra suggesting to refer the Bill to a select committee of the House consisting of such members as will be nominated by the Speaker, was rejected by voice vote. To the amendments moved by another NC legislator Mian Altaf Ahmad, Manjit Singh said they had already been considered in the draft Bill and had moved the Bill for passing. The Bill was put to voice vote and was passed. Minister for health and medical education Mangat Ram Sharma and minister for roads and buildings Jugal Kishore also put forward their views.
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Oppn walkouts over staff crunch in revenue dept
Jammu, January 18 Responding to a question of National Conference legislator Javed Ahmed Rana during question hour, minister of state for revenue Aijaz Ahmed Khan said, “136 posts of naib tehsildars are lying vacant in the Revenue department, out of which 92 have been referred to SSB for direct recruitment. The process would be completed within a year,” he added. Admitting that state faces acute shortage of naib tehsildars, he said, “The government wants to utilise the services of retired tehsildars on contractual basis.” Dissatisfied with Khan’s reply entire opposition and even legislators from the ruling alliance cornered the government for what they claimed rendering the Revenue Department infructuous in absence of requisite staff. Asking supplementaries to the minister Abdul Majid Wani, Sharif-ud-Din Shariq, Ali Mohammed Sagar, Mian Altaf, Mubarak Gul, Rachhpal Singh, Manohar Lal, Ashwani Sharma, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, Harsh Dev Singh, Ajay Sadhotra, Yashpal Kundal, Puran Singh, Syed Muhstaq Ahmed Bukhari, MS Akhoon and Jugal Kishore expressed regrets over government’s lukewarm attitude towards the Revenue Department. Panthers Party legislator Harsh Dev Singh said, “Though the coalition government boasted of new administrative units, which it created, yet no reorganization has been done at the lower level.” “Government’s exercise of creating new administrative units is proving to a cruel joke in absence of required staff and proper demarcation,” he added. Intervening into the matter amidst sloganeering health and medical education minister Mangat Ram Sharma said, “Apart from roping in retired tehsildars after adopting due procedure directions will also be issued to the SSB for filling up vacant posts at the earliest.” “SSB would be asked to take up the issue on priority and interviews for the vacant posts would be held in February,” he said. However, Sharma’s assurance failed to convince opposition legislators, who later staged walkout. Meanwhile, NC legislators Mir Saifullah, Mohammed Aslam Khan, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone and Mehboob Beg also staged a walkout from the house protesting against what they called “deliberate attempt of the government to avoid a question on relief to the October 2005 quake victims.”
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Alarm bells for Army
Jammu, January 18 More than 60,000 Jawans of the Army retire annually after they attain an age of 40 years but what about intake. To maintain an Army of 13,00,000 personnel is an uphill task but very little measure is being taken to fill the vacuum created annually with the retirement of 60,000 personnel. According to the exclusive figures available with The Tribune very little efforts have been done by the recruitment agencies of the Army in this region to fill the vacuum. In past three years 11 recruitment rallies by the Army were held in Jammu and Kashmir and only 1,754 people were selected to perform the job at Ground Duty. In 2005 five recruitment rallies were held by the Army in the state from which only 824 candidates were selected, in 2006 only two rallies were held in which 330 candidates got selected and in year 2007 four rallies were held from which 600 candidates were selected to join the Army. According to the reliable sources vacancies in the army are released by the Army headquarters based on the “wastage rate”, but the rate in which the Jawans are selected is quite feeble. “The worst problem faced by the government of Jammu and Kashmir is unemployment and the number of eligible youth in the state who can serve in the Army is enormous. The state government should take up the issue with ministry of defence to recruit more people from the state,” said an Army officer requesting anonymity. Though the Army is planning to hold a recruitment rally for ground duty soldiers in Mehdar and Reasi in the month of February another rally would be held in April and May for in Udhampur and Sambha districts, but very little is expected to be in store for the unemployed youth of the region. As the higher ups in the Army have proposed to made Army service mandatory like Israel and Korea, but at a monthly basic salary of Rs 3,050 a soldier has to work under harsh conditions. But the army officers said the alarm bell has been rung and concrete steps need to be taken to overcome the shortage that is being created annually with the retirement of more than 60,000 soldiers. When contacted Jammu-based PRO of the ministry of defence Lt-Col S.D. Goswami said, “It is the decision of the Army headquarters to decide the intake capacity in the army, regular recruitment rallies are held in the state and eligible candidates are selected during these rallies.” |
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Cops Halt Muharram Procession
Srinagar, January 18 Talking to mediapersons at his residence, Ansari said the present government had been imposing restrictions on religious gatherings which was undemocratic. He added that during the previous governments no such restrictions were imposed. Amid bad weather conditions, the police resorted to cane-charge to prevent several hundred mourners from taking out procession on the Moulana Azad Road. The police also prevented the mourners from taking out processions in Shaheed Gunj and Dalgate areas. Thousands of people took out Muharram processions at various places, including Magam in central Kashmir district of Budgam. Processions were also taken out in different parts of Baramulla district, including Delina, Baramulla and Sopore in north Kashmir. These processions were also taken out in the Shia-dominated areas of Pulwama district in south Kashmir.
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Election will revolve around performance: Mehbooba
Srinagar, January 18 Addressing a day-long convention of PDP workers at Akhnoor near Jammu, Mehbooba said the elected representatives had a crucial role in shaping up a politically dignified, economically vibrant and socially stable future for the people of the state. “This was the guiding principle for the coalition government when it assumed office in 2002 leading to a quick and noticeable transformation in the ground situation and the public mindset”, she said. Mufti added the PDP, as a partner of the coalition government, had pursued its political agenda with commitment for finding a peaceful resolution of the state’s political and economic problems. Mufti said her party strongly believed that an amicable solution to the Kashmir problem lied in democratic and political means and the use of force was no substitute for a policy of engagement, dialogue and reconciliation. She said the party would, with added dedication, pursue its agenda of encouraging the course of dialogue and reconciliation and translate its philosophy of healing touch into concrete measures for the general relief and betterment of the people in all regions of the state. Mufti said, while the responsibility of resolving the external dimensions of the Kashmir problem lied with India and Pakistan, internally “we will have to move fast in bringing the democratic temper, character and tradition of our country in its full force and measure to Jammu and Kashmir.” Stressing the need for the speedy implementation of the recommendations of the Working Groups to strengthen the internal confidence building process, Mehbooba welcomed the Centre’s move to put in place a mechanism for the implementation of the recommendations. She termed it an endorsement of the PDP’s stand that for any feasible solution of the Kashmir issue, people of the state had to be carried along by making them a part of the reconciliation process through various reconciliatory measures. She stressed the need for measures like reduction of troops and revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the larger interest of the people and to ensure peace.
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Residents seek revival of Namak Road
Rajouri, January 18 Popularly known as Namak Road, it used to serve a major trade route to Pakistan and traders used to travel to the state and erstwhile western Punjab in Pakistan via this road. Traders used to carry salt from the salt hills of Jhelum in Punjab to Kashmir. According to historians, Akbar conquered Kashmir via this 303 km-long route and since then this route connects Gujarat to Lahore, Bimbar and Nowshera in Pakistan and Rajouri, Peer-Ki-Gali, Hirpura, Kanipur and Srinagar in India. |
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Hurriyat leaders rally behind Afzal Guru, held
Srinagar, January 18 They were protesting against the BJP, which had demanded hanging of Mohammad Afzal Guru, the accused in the Parliament attack case. Those held included senior leader, Shabir Ahmad Shah, who recently staged a comeback to the amalgam and about 10 other top leaders and nearly 30 supporters. Shah and Sheikh Abdul Aziz were leading a procession from Rajbagh area, where the head office of the Hurriyat Conference is located, about three kms away from central Lal Chowk. They were not allowed to proceed to Lal Chowk and were held by the police soon after they started their procession. Shah told the media persons at party headquarters earlier that the Hurriyat Conference would stage protest demonstrations against the BJP. He said Guru had not been given a fair trial and added that if he was hanged thousands like him would take birth in the trouble torn state.
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Police vehicle rams into auto, set afire
Srinagar, January 18 The police gypsy which was being driven by constable Mushtaq Ahmad ran into an auto being driven by Bilal Ahmad. Sources said the accident was caused as the auto did not have lights and was on wrong side. Later, a crowd gathered on the spot and surrounded the policemen, which included a DSP rank official. Soon a group of police personnel also reached there and reportedly fired shots in the air to rescue their colleagues. However, the crowd set the police gypsy on fire. The police said they had registered a case but no arrests had been made so far. They said the crowd’s unruly behaviour may have something to do with the fact that the cops belonged to the anti-terrorist wing, Special Operations Group (SOG), of the police. The SOG is a feared police organisation set up to tackle militancy. |
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Training camp for MOs ends
Jammu, January 18 Under district mental health programme the state government had roped in the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, to train 10 medical officers in basic psychiatry so as to change the dismal scenario in the wake of acute dearth of qualified psychiatrists in conflict-hit Jammu and Kashmir. After successful completion of their training the medicos were awarded certificates by Secretary, Health and Medical Education, KB Jandial at a function held within the hospital premises. Now the trained doctors would go back to their respective districts so as to provide treatment to the needy at the time of initiation of mental diseases, thereby preventing them from becoming chronic patients. NIMHANS psychiatrists Dr KV Kishore and Dr Gangadhar shared their experiences with the gathering, hoping that they (trained doctors) would leave no stone unturned to extend treatment to the needy patients. Among others the valedictory function was attended by Director, Health Services, Dr Jasbir Singh, GMC Principal Dr Rajinder Singh, head of the psychiatry department, Dr Chander Mohan Sharma, renowned psychiatrist Dr Jagdish Thappa and hospital medical superintendent Dr Ramesh Gupta. The initiative may go a long way improving things for the mentally-challenged people of Jammu and Kashmir, which has just 25 psychiatrists (five in Jammu region, 20 in Kashmir valley and none in Ladakh region) for a population of 11 million.
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Weather hits air traffic
Srinagar, January 18 The weather seriously affected the air traffic too and six flights scheduled to take off from Srinagar were cancelled today. An airport official told The Tribune that the first take-off was possible only later in the day when weather brightened a bit. However, flights carrying Hajis from Jeddah landed today. The authorities said the traffic from both sides of the highway remained closed and the problem of stone-shooting was more serious than the snow, which officials are able to clear in a short period of time. Officials of Beacon, which is responsible for maintenance of the highway, said incidents of landslide and stone-shooting, in which stray stones roll dangerously down the hills alongside the highway and disrupt the traffic, had assumed serious proportion of late. A recent barricade they had erected in Panthial to prevent stones from falling on the highway has also been destroyed by landslides. They said construction works on these hills for the expansion of the highway and laying of railway tracks had only made them loosened up in these areas, increasing the chance of stone-shooting and landsliding. The snow today, a Met department spokesperson said, largely fell in central and South Kashmir while the areas in North Kashmir remained dry. While Srinagar witnessed a combined measurement of 4.6 mm of snow and rains, areas in high altitude received more snowfall. With the normal life affected across the valley, the only piece of good news was reserved for the tourism department with snow-level touching between 6 to 7 ft in Gulmarg. This is just what they would be hoping before it hosts winter sports in mid-February. The Kupwara administrator has, meanwhile, asked the residents of Karnah, Keran, Machil, Budnamba, Jumagand, Kenthawali and Nowgam to take precautionary measures in view of continuous heavy snowfall as there is apprehension of snow avalanches. An official spokesperson said the residents had been advised to restrict their movement for the next two to three days. These areas had recently witnessed heavy avalanches and 15 army personnel and porters were killed in a day there recently. |
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Water Shortage
Udhampur, January 18 A high-level meeting of senior officers was held at Udhampur under the chairmanship of the district development commissioner, O.P. Kalandaria, to review the progress in setting up hand pumps in different parts of the district. Officers of the Public Heath Engineering (PHE) and the Ground Water Department were also present on the occasion. It was disclosed in the meeting that work on 20 hand pumps had almost been completed, while the remaining pumps would be installed very soon. It was also informed in the meeting that at least 12 hand pumps would be installed in each Assembly constituency before the beginning of summers. Udhampur and its adjoining localities have been facing an acute shortage of drinking water, especially during summers, as the town is facing a shortage of about 12 lakh gallons of water per day. The total population in Udhampur is over 95,000 and 34 lakh gallons water is required to meet the requirement.
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1 killed in house collapse
Srinagar January 18 The police said the house of one Abdul Gani Ganie caved in and three persons- Gullah Ganie, Farooq Ahmad Ganie and Rabish Ahmad Ganie- were buried. A rescue team comprising the police and residents brought out all three persons from the debris and rushed them to hospital. The doctors, the police said, declared Gulla Ganie brought dead while the condition of two others is stable. Meanwhile, the authorities have recovered the body of one of the two persons who were buried under an avalanche in the Dardpora area of Achbal. The police said it had found out the body of Mushtaq Ahmad Khan but another buried person, Fareed Ahmad Khan, remained untraced. Both were in the forest
area of Lachan top when they were hit by an avalanche. — TNS |
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Jammu, January 18
