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Self-help Group
Assembly Polls
‘Outsider’ Geelani can’t call us back: Kashmiri Pandits
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Bhardwaj GOC-in-C of Northern Command
CRPF-police rivalry comes out in open
Vigilance raids govt official’s residence
Organisers upbeat over games’ conduct
Fresh spell of snow in valley
JU council lauds Mattoo, Riyaz
Landmark verdict on leave
Power shortage hits industrial growth
Minister cautions people against oppn propaganda
Minister sanctions margin money
Tehsil Status to Arnas
Sunderbani residents seek trauma hospital
Poor cellular service irks customers
Clerical staff on strike
DGP inspects police hospital
Woman killed, 2 houses gutted
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Self-help Group
Jammu, February 25 Official sources today said that besides, the self-help group scheme, the government had decided to cover 5,700 unemployed youths under the self-employment scheme. So far, 2,477 cases had been sanctioned and out of this, 1,315 cases had been cleared involving an amount of Rs 38.51 crore. An amount of Rs 57.59 crore would be involved when all cases are cleared. In order to provide at least one productive employment per family, the government constituted a committee for the creation of employment opportunities. In this context, a committee on employment mission was constituted in May last year. The mission has prepared a draft employment policy which has been referred to a cabinet subcommittee headed by health minister Mangat Ram Sharma. Official sources said members of the committee had a number of sittings and were finalising its recommendations which were to be submitted to the government shortly. In addition to this, the state government persuaded the Indian Navy and the Air Force to start recruitment rallies in the state. Accordingly two rallies, one in Udhampur and the other in Srinagar, were held which helped about 500 youths to get jobs in the country's two premier forces. A government report said under the Prime Minister's Employment Package and Reconstruction Plan, over 17,000 posts of anganwari workers and helpers were created. About 300 posts of supervisors were also sanctioned under the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme. According to the report, 5,700 persons were to be covered under the self-employment programme. Under the programme, 2,477 cases were sanctioned and out of this, 1,315 cases were cleared involving an amount of Rs 38.51 crore. When the remaining cases were cleared, the total amount involved would be Rs 60 crore. The state government had also introduced several schemes for motivating industrialists for setting up their units in Jammu and Kashmir. These schemes had resulted in a private investment of Rs 2,000 crore during the past three years. Besides strengthening the staff in the Public Service Commission and the Subordinate Services Selection Board, the government has decided to fill 22,000 vacancies in the non-gazetted cadre by way of “fast track selection.” These vacancies are to be filled within the next six to eight months. |
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Assembly Polls
Jammu, February 25 “The party would not only devise ways to try to keep its flock together but would work a strategy to rope in rebel leaders of arch-rival, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Congress,” said a senior party leader on the condition of anonymity. It may be recalled that NC’s former minister Ghulam Hassan Geelani, on February 21, had joined the PDP, a partner in the ruling coalition, along with his supporters. Geelani had not lost any election in his previous four attempts from the Budgam district. “It was suffocating due to the NC’s bad state of affairs and its leadership. The NC has lost steam under Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah,” Geelani reportedly said, while joining the PDP. Sources within the NC said, “The party think-tank along with other leaders would be pondering over ways and means to check desertion by party leaders at this crucial stage when elections could be announced anytime by the coalition government.” “Further, the top brass in consonance with senior leaders and party legislators would be looking for further inductions of rebel leaders from the PDP and the Congress to create a psychological pressure on the opponents,” they said. “Since announcing elections is the prerogative of the coalition government, party patron Dr Farooq Abdullah has conveyed to party president Omar Abdullah and general secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmed to check further damage to the party,” they said. “Desertions at this moment will definitely cast a negative impact on the party prospects,” said another NC leader, adding “It is all about mind games when elections draw nearer.” “However, the NC still has an upper hand over its rivals. Congress MP Dr Karan Singh’s son Ajatshatru Singh, Pandit Trilochan Dutt’s son Vikas Dutt and PDP’s Romesh Mottan recently joined us,” he added. He further said, “Dr Abdullah has also asked party leaders, including legislators of both the Houses to vociferously raise rampant corruption under the coalition rule,” adding, “Unceremonious and autocratic end to the budget session by the coalition partners, too, would be highlighted before the people.” Responding to a query, he said, “Obviously the process of prospective candidates for the coming elections would be discussed threadbare. As far as pre-poll alliance is concerned, the party still has not decided but will keep its option open, provided we get a secular like-minded party,” he added. |
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‘Outsider’ Geelani can’t call us back: Kashmiri Pandits
Jammu, February 25 Speaking to The Tribune, Chairman of the Panun Kashmir Movement Ashwani Charngoo said, “The comeback appeal by a person who himself is responsible for the exile of the Pandit community from Kashmir is totally unacceptable to us.” Adding he said, “We were forced to leave the valley as Kashmiri Pandits faced genocide in the valley and our existence was in danger. We were targeted and killed under a deliberate conspiracy and people who hatched the conspiracy against us have no right to call us back.” “During the past 18 years, Kashmir has come a long way. Its social, political and religious structures have changed completed. The place which was once famous for it secular set up is now considered as the most radical and fundamentalist community. So Kashmiri Pandits won’t be safe in Kashmir,”Charngoo said. “Our return to Kashmir is possible when our demand of a separate homeland in the form of Panun Kashmir (our Kashmir) is not fulfilled, he added. Terming Geelani as an “outsider” Charngroo said Geelani had no right to invite the community back to the valley. “Geelani has his roots in Iran, and Kashmiri Pandits are indigenous citizens of the valley. So an outsider cannot invite us back to our own place,” he said. Chairman, Panun Kashmir, Agnishekar, said, “The statement of Syed Ali Shah Geelani to call back Kashmiri Pandits is just an act of hoodwinking, he wants to show that he is a secular leader. But we turn down this offer until our social, cultural and geopolitical aspirations are not fulfilled.” “I have witnessed the mass slaughter of members of our community. Our people were targeted and killed. We are not safe in valley, provided we don’t get our own homeland here,” said Bansi Lal Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit. |
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CRPF-police rivalry comes out in open
Jammu, February 25 The rivalry between the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was so far a closely guarded secret, but now it has come in open. On the eve of United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s Bhaderwah visit, the CRPF claimed to have seized huge cache of arms and ammunition barely three kilometres from the place she was supposed to meet the public. This created sensation across the country and JKP was taken off guard. While the JKP did “smell something fishy about the seizures” from the first day itself, but it preferred to keep quiet to ensure that there was no controversy during Gandhi’s visit. Moreover, it did not want to react before full investigations were conducted as it did not want to leave anything to chance. “Because benefit of doubt was necessary before any inquiry,” disclosed a senior officer in JKP. Once visit was over, the JKP got down to the “real business” of establishing the truth about the “seizures.” Yesterday the deputy inspector general of the police Doda range instituted an inquiry to be conducted by the senior superintendent of police, Doda to establish the facts about the “fake seizures”. The JKP has stuck to the line that there were no seizures and everything was done for “cheap publicity”. The CRPF officials went on record across the news channels and print media about the “seizure of arms and ammunition.” It is widely believed here that the findings of the “fact finding committee” constituted by the DIG Doda are a foregone conclusion. Because the JKP believed from the day one and it still believes that the “seizure” story was concocted by the CRPF to attract the media attention on the eve of Gandhi’s visit. The issue has led to fierce confrontation between the two security agencies. Interestingly all the CRPF officials have preferred to stay quiet about the issue after it boomeranged into a controversy. It is learnt that the government has asked the senior officers of the two organisations to sit together and sort out the issue among themselves and not go public about anything. The government is apprehensive that there may be no end to this confrontation, which would obviously be detrimental to the interests of the state fighting a war against terror. And that too during the crucial year when the countdown for elections has already started. The two organisations need to coordinate, instead of confronting, with each other. |
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Vigilance raids govt official’s residence
Srinagar, February 25 The SVO officials today conducted a search at the residential premises of Abdul Rahim Shah, scientific assistant in the Directorate of Environment, Ecology and Remote Sensing, situated at Lalded Colony in Rawalpora. Investigations revealed that the official concerned was in possession of movable and immovable property worth over Rs 1.5 crore. A case was registered which revealed that Shah, hailing from Pulwama district, by misusing his official position and indulging in corrupt practises, had acquired property disproportionate to his known sources of income. The property has been in the shape of a three-storeyed house constructed on a piece of land measuring 4 kanal at Lalded Colony, Rawalpora, Srinagar. The official was also reported to have purchased a large chunk of land .He was also in possession of moveable assets in the shape of bank balance, which had been disproportionate to his known sources of income, an SVO official said. |
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Organisers upbeat over games’ conduct
Srinagar, February 25 "We are satisfied with the recently concluded event… we can hold the SAF and the Commonwealth Games here in future,” boasted Farooq Ahmad Lone, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Gulmarg Development Authority to The Tribune. The authority, looking after tourism development in the area, and other agencies like the State Cable Car Corporation, and the Tourism Development Corporation assisted the Tourism Department of Jammu and Kashmir in the conduct of the games. These games in which about 500 players comprising 20 teams from different parts of the country participated were held under the aegis of the Indian Olympic Association with the help of the Winter Games Federation of India and the Winter Games Association of Jammu and Kashmir. The state government focuses on the development of tourism and increase in tourist inflow to Kashmir through such events not only for the scenic beauty of the valley but its distinguished handicraft products. "Kashmir has been the pioneer and backbone of Indian tourism because it offers more than just scenic beauty", Chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said while inaugurating the national event. It was first in 1998 that the first games were held at Gulmarg to further allay the fears among the tourists aspiring to visit Kashmir as in the pre-militancy days. The subsequent events at Gulmarg and other events elsewhere in Kashmir have been used to upgrade the facilities, according to the senior officials of the tourism department. To further develop the facilities for various winter sports events, another ski lift is being set up at Kongdori, which provides access to one of the finest skiing slopes in the area, said Lone. He added that this would suit any international event in the future according to standards of the Federation of International Sking (FIS). The area is already equipped with ski lifts at Gulmarg with a ski shop, and the gondola that is used by experienced skiers to reach Kongdori (10,000 ft.) and Afarvat (13200 ft.). The ice rink that played host to a series of ice hockey events is also being developed further to make it all weather field, said Lone. |
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Fresh spell of snow in valley
Srinagar, February 25 High altitude areas, including Pahalgam, Khilanmarg and Kupwara received a fresh spell of snow, while Srinagar and other plain areas received rain this morning, the Met department said. Kupwara recorded 4.8 mm of rain, while Bhaderwah in Jammu region recorded 2.4 mm of rain. Pahalgam in Kashmir and nearby Kokernag were the coldest places recording a minimum of minus 4.0 degree Celsius and minus 0.9 degrees Celsius, respectively. Srinagar recorded a low of 1.9 degrees Celsius, while Qazigund and Kupwara recorded a minimum temperature of 0.8 and 1.2 degrees Celsius. In Jammu region where night temperatures showed an upward trend till last week, today registered an appreciable drop in the temperatures due to rain.
— PTI |
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JU council lauds Mattoo, Riyaz
Jammu, February 25 Addressing the University Council meeting here this
morning, the Governor noted with satisfaction the tie-up of JU with Mauritius and Canada, saying that the international exposure will
immensely benefit students, who in this age of knowledge,cannot remain confined within limited precincts. The Governor said that reaching out to students in far-flung areas through extended campuses at Bhadarwah, Udhampur, Kathua and Poonch was a welcome step aimed at satiating the higher learning quench of youth. The Governor congratulated Prof Mattoo for being
honoured with Padma Shri and Prof Riyaz Punjabi, Vice-Chancellor of Kashmir University, for his international recognition as Honorary Professor of International University, Vienna. The Chief Minister hoped that the University of
Kashmir too would achieve highest pinnacles in academics. He recalled the glorious academic record of KU, saying that it used to be one of the premier institutions offering variety of courses. Unfolding his vision for Jammu University, Prof
Mattoo reiterated that it was going to be a vibrant hub of academics as also cultural and sporting activities. He said that an
International Resource Cell had been established in collaboration with the
British Council while research projects to the tune of Rs 10 crores had also been formulated. |
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Landmark verdict on leave
Jammu, February 25 While disposing of the petition, Justice Nirmal Singh further directed that a “competent authority, if so desires, will take a fresh decision for giving appointment to the private respondent, subject to his eligibility with effect from March 9, ‘95 i.e date on which he joined back after being on unauthorised absentce.” The high court further directed the government to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the head of the Department of Pharmacology for not referring the matter to the administrative department regarding allowing private respondent to rejoin illegally.” |
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Power shortage hits industrial growth
Jammu, February 25 The federation of industries, an association of Jammu-based industries today met the power minister, Babu Singh, who held an interactive session with the federation at its office in Bari-Brahmana, Jammu. Members of the federation apprised the power minister with the problems faced by industrial units due to power shortage. “Industry is the backbone of economic development of any country. But unfortunately priority has never been given to the industry. We requested the power minister to provide 24 hours uninterrupted power supply to the industry,” Anil Suri, chairman of the Federation of Industries told The Tribune. Due to lack of coordination between various sub-departments of the power department, there are unscheduled and long-hour power cuts, he added. “Since a lot of industries have come up in the industrial estates of Gangayal and Birpur, sub-stations need immediate upgradation from 440-V to 11 KVA sub-station. In addition to this, the existing network of power lines also need immediate maintenance,” Suri said. He added, “We raised all these issues with the power minister and he promised us that he would work positively for a mutually beneficial relationship between the entrepreneurs and the power development department.” |
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Minister cautions people against oppn propaganda
Udhampur, February 25 Jugal Kishore along with senior party leaders started this campaign from Ramban town to counter, what he called, malicious propaganda by the opposition. In the 2002 assembly elections, the Congress had failed to open its account from this belt which was earlier part of Doda district. This time Congress leadership has been expecting to perform well in this newly carved district. As it was under the present regime of Ghulam Nabi Azad, district status was granted to Ramban. The Congress has been trying to take political mileage of accepting long pending demand of the people of this mountainous belt. Addressing a series of meetings, Sharma tried to take credit for granting district status to Ramban. "It was a long pending demand of the people of this belt and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has fulfilled this just and genuine demand", he said and lambasted previous regimes for meting out step-motherly treatment with Jammu hilly backward belt of erstwhile Doda district. Cautioning people against false propaganda launched by the opposition against the government, the minister claimed that development activities had been accelerated after district status was granted to Ramban. Ramban, which was earlier part of Doda district, was granted district in April, 2007. |
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Minister sanctions margin money
Jammu, February 25 The government move would generate employment for 2964 persons. At a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of Khadi Village and Industry Board (KVIB), the Minister of Industries and Commerce Nawang Rigzin Jora sanctioned the margin money of Rs 1.11 crore. Under the Rural Employment Generation Programme, the board has already set up 1847 projects with margin money of Rs 10.48 crore, thus generating the employment opportunities for 28145 persons in rural areas. |
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Tehsil Status to Arnas
Udhampur, February 25 The town observed a complete shutdown in response to the bandh call given by the All-Parties Development Committee. Shops and business establishments remained closed and people staged demonstrations against the government for meting out step-motherly treatment to them. The protest procession which started from the main bazaar passed through different areas before it turned into a rally. Expressing anger over the state government’s attitude, residents rued that the Chief Minister had promised to grant tehsil status to Arnas, but he did not fulfil his promise. Highlighting their woes, residents pointed out that instead of granting tehsil status to this area, authorities had even transferred the naib-tehsil status six months back. The residents of Arnas, which is a Niabat, have been struggling to get the tehsil status for their area. They argued that since district status had been granted to Reasi, this Niabat should also be upgraded as a tehsil. It is worthwhile to mention that Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is scheduled to address a rally at Reasi on Tuesday after inaugurating the office complex of the deputy commissioner. |
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Sunderbani residents seek trauma hospital
Sunderbani (Rajouri), February 25 Even though the state government admits that this area is highly prone to road accidents, it has failed to set up a trauma hospital. The locals here said on an average, in a month, there are around 12-15 deadly accidents and since there are no trauma hospitals in the area, majority of the injured die. Though doctors at the sub district hospital here manage to treat the persons with minor injuries, but when it comes to treating critically injured patients they simply give up, they added. The locals added most of the critically injured patients die on the way to the district hospital (about 80 km away) here or to the well-equipped hospitals in Jammu. The residents said even the Chief Minister during his visit here had announced the setting up of a trauma hospital, as the area is highly accident-prone. They rued that it seems that he too has forgotten about the announcement made by him. “This area is highly accident-prone. Every month on an average around 12-15 road accidents occur here and scores of precious human lives are lost. To worsen the things, the sub district hospital here doesn’t have orthopaedicians and blood bank,” said Chander Mohan Sharma, a local youth leader and a resident. “To minimise the loss of precious human lives, the government should set up a trauma hospital here. Even Chief Minister has announced a trauma hospital for this accident-prone area.” Rajouri chief medical officer Dr Tilak Raj Gupta admitted that this area of the border district witnesses a high average of road accidents. However, he said setting up a trauma hospital here is a policy decision and has to be taken by the state
government. |
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Poor cellular service irks customers
Sunderbani (Rajouri), February 25 As the authorities failed to streamline mobile services, subscribers are now seriously considering surrendering the mobile connections due to poor connectivity. “There is no use of keeping mobile phones when the service of BSNL is so poor,” lamented Kuldeep Raj, a shopkeeper of Sunderbani. He informed that local subscribers have repeatedly brought the matter to the notice of BSNL authorities, but to no avail. Narinder Sharma, another shopkeeper, told The Tribune that most of the subscribers were fed up with the mobile phones due to poor service. On the other hand, district telecom engineer M.L. Raina claimed that BSNL had been providing smooth service to its consumers. “Occasionally services disrupt due to some technical snag, but most of the time our staff restores service without any delay,” said Raina. Being a remotest border area of Jammu and Kashmir, mobile phone is the only means of communication in this hilly belt. There are more than two thousand mobile subscribers in Sunderbani alone, but most of these customers were dissatisfied with the service. |
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Clerical staff on strike
Jammu, February 25 “All clerical employees have resorted to pen down strike in all departments,” chairman, Clerical Staff Association, Ram Kumar Sharma said. The decision to this effect was taken at a central executive committee meeting of the association yesterday.
— PTI |
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DGP inspects police hospital
Srinagar, February 25 The DGP also had an hour-long interaction with patients during which he inquired about the quality of facilities being provided to them. He also held detailed discussions with doctors and the hospital administration. |
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Woman killed, 2 houses gutted
Srinagar, February 25 The body of 32-year-old Hafiza Bano was recovered from the Ganiwan power canal reservoir at Ganderbal. In an other incident, Qudisa, daughter of Ghulam Qadir, was injured after she was hit by a vehicle at Kawoosa, Magam, in Budgam. She was later hospitalised. Meanwhile, two houses were gutted at Baramulla and Anantnag late last night. Police sources said the cause of the fire was being ascertained.
— UNI
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