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Karra: Restructure federal system
Day 2 of Strike
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MP in soup for pointing finger at speaker
Development process governed by justice: Azad
Parents paying hefty fees for pvt education
Wait for travel permit across LoC too long
Left out of recruitment process, youths take to streets
Woman’s death triggers protest; ‘erring’ doc held
Sex Scandal
Amarnath yatra boon for state economy: Board CEO
Set up tourism body in Banihal: Congress
Anti-India slogans: HC issues notice to Mirwaiz
‘Pak terror infrastructure still training ultras’
Another killing in Army
Committee to identify languishing projects
Relief sought for farmers
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Karra: Restructure federal system
Srinagar, May 6 He was addressing the maiden national seminar on the “Centre-State Relations in the context of 13th Finance Commission” in Trivandrum, Kerala today. He said the objective of decentralisation could be achieved if the commission contextualises its operative recommendations by explicitly recognising how the ongoing economic reform would have a bearing on the Centre-State transfer system. He said the assignment of tax authority was important in influencing the starting point from which intergovernmental transfers are made. Second, he said, the explicit strengthening of local governments, with formal transfer systems being introduced for state-local transfers, must impact centre-state fiscal relations. The Planning Commission, Karra said, follows a dual classification of special category states and non-special category states. He said the Planning Commission earmarks a part of the total resources available to them to be distributed between these states. This system worked well until the Union Government in its wisdom decided to “bring down” many other states to the status of a special category state. Starting from three states these have now multiplied to 11. This adversely affected all the special category states, especially Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Nagaland, which were the three original special category states, he said. While it is not possible for the Planning Commission to earmark any more resources, we suggest that the commission follow a similar principle of earmarking a pool for special category states. The minister said there was an urgent need to change the modality and mechanics of planning since the main culprit of the fiscal crisis in the states was the Plan. The problem is that in the post-fiscal reform period, the approach to financing the state plans had not undergone a change. All of it continues to be what it was earlier, even though the entire fiscal regime has undergone fundamental changes. The result is that it is impossible for the states to finance their plans in a manner that does not add to their fiscal woes. He said the size and structure of the plan affected the fiscal balance adversely as most of the states presented their budgets before their plan size and its allocation was finalised forcing the states to resort to market borrowings. Karra suggested that the design and modalities of implementation of centrally sponsored schemes should be reviewed so as to make them more relevant and responsive to the emergent and felt needs of the state governments. He added that CSS should be customized according to state’s requirements. He said also an aspect relating to cost of delivery of public service across different regions of the country also needed to be kept in view while finalising the formula for devolution of resources to the states. |
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Day 2 of Strike
Srinagar, May 6 However, emergency service in the hospitals was functioning normally. All the educational institutions wore a deserted as teaching staff and students stayed away from work in response to the strike call. A UNI correspondent who visited a number of offices, including Public Health Engineering (PHE) Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) and hospitals said the rooms everywhere wore a deserted look. The EJAC had given the strike call in support of their demands which included raising retirement age from 58 to 60 years, five-day week in all government offices, regularisation of all daily-wagers and adhoc employees and medi-claim for all. The strike is also against government's failure to control the price-rise of essential commodities, a spokesman of the EJAC said. Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which is a coalition partner in the ruling regime, too lashed at the government and condemned the police action. PDP youth wing president and MLC Syed Basharat Bukhari, who is also his party's spokesperson, said the government should start negotiations with the employees for amicable solution of all issues. “Instead of fulfilling its promises, the government is making them suffer, which shows its non-serious approach towards redressing the problems of employees,” he said. The National Conference said the government should fulfill the demands of these employees and criticised the use of forces against them. NC general secretary Shekh Nazir Ahmad said the government has reacted in an undemocratic way and advised to hold talks instead of using force to end
the agitation. |
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MP in soup for pointing finger at speaker
Srinagar, May 6 “Making false accusations is unacceptable; it is against the justice system and amounts to questioning the integrity of judges. Action will definitely be taken against the MP for making a false statement,” Azad told a private TV news channel here. The scandal about alleged involvement of several police officers, bureaucrats and politicians in a sex racket in the city rocked the state early last year and the case is sub judice as its is before a sessions court in Chandigarh. The Jammu and Kashmir High court is monitoring the CBI probe into the case. Sharma has pointed finger at Speaker Tara Chand and Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, but a day later he backtracked from his statements.
— PTI |
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Development process governed by justice: Azad
Srinagar, May 6 Addressing the Bandipora District Development Board meeting here, the Chief Minister said he was the first Chief Minister of the state in 60 years who had worked above political considerations in so far as development matters were concerned. He said he did not resort to political considerations even in his own constituency, where he did not interfere with the development activities. “The leaders of Opposition parties also sit with me in public meetings and actively participate in identifying and implementation of the development projects,” he said. He said the development and justice were his main planks and people of the state the priority. The Chief Minister said he did not believe in promoting one region over the expense of other or take decisions on caste, religion or region basis. The government, he added, was actively involved in the equitable development of different areas and regions of the state, while neglected and underdeveloped areas were in special focus. He said his emphasis had been on providing amenities to the people of the state and improving and upgrading the existing facilities. The meeting approved the current year’s annual plan of the district at Rs 41.27 crore, registering an increase of 34 per cent over the previous year’s plan of Rs 30.71 crore. However, the Chief Minister announced another Rs 11 crore for execution of works under the fast track scheme to provide immediate relief to the people by completing long-pending projects for want of adequate funds. He said the fast track experiment had been extended to all districts of the state to ensure early completion of ongoing projects pending for want of some funds. |
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‘Need to adopt holistic approach on Kashmir’
Jammu, May 6 Addressing the gathering, Kalra said though probes and inquiry commissions were set up into various incidents, the need of the hour was to adopt a holistic approach to resolve this contentious issue. He said the state government must wake up and address the issue of human rights, which was raised time and again by Pakistan. He underlined the need to strengthen the democratic institutions in the state as also the State Human Rights Commission, which he termed as a “toothless tiger”. He said the government must go for panchayat polls as it would strengthen the democracy at the grassroot level and bring in more people into the mainstream. Earlier, speaking on the Pakistan’s foreign policy, AVM Kapil Kak (retd) said Pakistan had gained a lot from China in terms of economic and technical aid, besides military cooperation. According to him, Pakistan is the first country to have acquired nuclear weapons with the assistance of another country (China). He said with Pakistan acquiring nuclear arsenal, the strategic equilibrium in South Asia had changed forever. Senior journalist Manoj Joshi said the US-Pakistan ties right now were on a hazardous plane where the former felt letdown by Pakistan with regard to the war against terror and Pakistanis resent the US role. He said the US must take a hard look at Pakistan’s demands for aid. Senior fellow, Observer, Research Foundation, New Delhi, Rajeshwari Rajgopalan said the US concerns on Pakistan possessing weapons of mass destruction (WMD) intensified after 9/11 and it spent $100 million in securing Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, warheads and laboratories. Speaking on emerging trends in the US-Pakistan ties, she said these depended on four factors - war on terror, stability of Afghanistan, democracy and human rights. Speaking on civil society and public sphere, Surinder Singh Oberoi said it was time for India’s civil society to move along with that of Pakistan for a better future of South Asia. He said despite various confidence building measures the hatred between the two countries continued. He stressed on extending aid to Pakistan in humanitarian projects and promoting academic exchange between the neighbours. Prof G. Gopa Kumar and Dr Shaji Varkey also addressed the seminar. |
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Parents paying hefty fees for pvt education
Jammu, May 6 With the increasing number of private schools and colleges in the state, particularly in the winter capital, the parents in the name of “quality” education have become an easy prey for such institutions largely opened by industrialists and politicians. Moreover, the state government too has turned a blind eye to the fleecing of common people for obvious reasons. “The education has become an industry in this state. There is a deep nexus between the industrialists and the politicians, who have set up such private institutions,” said a police officer, whose son studies in a private school. Despite being in a primary class, I have to pay Rs 2,500 every month for his fee and other charges being levied by the school management, he added. It may be recalled here that a couple of years back, waking up from its deep slumber, the state government had issued a circular to such private institutions to publish their fee structure in newspapers every year. However, a handful of such institutions adhered to the government circular in breach hiding ‘actual costs’ like private banks. Admitting sharp dissimilarity in fee structure of the private educational institutions, director school education A.K. Raina said the government had not provided any rules to keep a similar fee structure for all private institutions. “Such private schools charge fee as per their infrastructure and other facilities being provided to the students,” he added. However, a couple of years acting upon the public interest litigation (PIL), the state high court had issued a direction to such institutions to publish their fee structure every year in different newspapers. “The directorate of school education too has issued a direction that they shall publish their fee structure in the newspapers, besides submitting it to us while seeking renewal of their affiliation from the state government,” said Raina. Not only fee structure, the private schools had been instructed to submit break-up of yearly increment to their respective staff, including teachers, he added. An income tax official said paradoxically, in a democratic set up the socialistic pattern of education had succumbed to privatisation of education. “Having framed trusts such institutions doesn’t fall under tax ambit and, hence, the industrialists in connivance with the politicians have raised them to mint money,” he added. The parents were forced to pay dues for even summer and winter holidays, he said. Shweta Malhotra, a government servant, said under the CBSE pattern, the fee could not be increased without the parents’ consent and re-admission fee to next class too could not be charged, but it appeared there was no control over private schools in this state. Despite repeated attempts, minister of state for education Peer Mohammed Hussain could not be reached for his comments. |
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Wait for travel permit across LoC too long
Poonch, May 6 Two years back, Muhammad Iqbal of ward No 17 here decided to marry off his daughter Fozia (20) to Haroon Rasheed Rathore. However, since majority of his family elders here had already died, he thought the participation of his divided family members, who got separated from their family here in 1947 during Partition, living in Rawalpindi, was necessary to make the marriage a lifelong experience. He then asked his relatives, including his uncle Haji Saif-u-Din (65), his wife to apply for permit to travel to India for taking part in the marriage. Dying to participate in the marriage function of their relative’s daughter, they obliged and applied for the travel permit two years back. For two years, Iqbal kept on calling his relatives to know the status of their permit, but every time they told him that the documents necessary for travelling to this country are “under process”. However recently, when he asked his relatives about the status, they gave a affirmative reply, saying that they have got the travel permit and would be travelling to India on April 21. Elated at the news, Iqbal then fixed the marriage date on April 23 and the marriage was in fact solemnised with the participation of 11 members of Iqbal’s relatives. “Two years back when I finalised the match for my daughter and wished to marry her off, I thought the marriage ceremony would look incomplete without the participation of some elders. Since my father Nazir Ahmed is no more, I had a desire that my uncle Saif-u-Din, who lives in Rawalpindi after getting separated from our family in 1947 along with other relatives there should at least come for marriage,” said Muhammad Iqbal. “We waited for two years for them to get the travel permits. It was only after they got the permission for travelling to India that we fixed the date for marriage. I am happy that it was worth waiting for since I didn’t feel that there was something missing in the marriage,” he added. However, Muhammad Iqbal says that two years is too long a period for a getting permit. “As India and Pakistan prepare for ministerial-level talks later this month, we appeal to the two countries to include the instant travel permits for marriage and emergency situations like deaths in their agenda,” he said. “The two governments should cut down the time in giving travel permission if they really want to come to the aid of the divided families. |
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Left out of recruitment process, youths take to streets
Udhampur, May 6 The candidates, who came from the Ramnagar constituency, were shell-shocked when they were asked to leave the rally venue. Over 2,000 youth from Ramnagar constituency were not included in the rally, as according to the authorities, recruitment was only for the youth of Chenani area. Senior police and civil officers were themselves present in the rally to conduct the on-spot recruitment of matriculate youth in the police. Although large a number of youth from many areas were present in the rally, candidates from Dodu, Latti and Jakardh were allowed to participate in the process. Ignored by the authorities in the recruitment process, youths took out a procession and marched towards Gandh were monthly meeting of the Congress was going. They brought the matter to the notice of general secretary of the Pradesh Youth Congress, R.S. Pathania, who was presiding over the meeting. Addressing the youth, Pathania strongly condemned the authorities for adopting biased and partial approach in recruitment process. He smelt a deep-rooted conspiracy in ignoring youth of Ramnagar. He assured that he would bring this matter to the notice of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and demanded an inquiry. The Congress leader said like Dodu, Basantgarh was also a backward and neglected area so youth of this belt should also be given priority in recruitment. Worthwhile to mention here, after the massacre of some members of a minority community on May 30, 2006, the state government had announced to conduct on-spot recruitment of matriculate youth in this area. When contacted, deputy inspector general (DIG), Udhampur-Reasi zone, Alok Puri told The Tribune that the rally was only for Dodu area so there was no reason to recruit youth from other areas. |
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Woman’s death triggers protest; ‘erring’ doc held
Ramban, May 6 The residents lifted the blockade only after the accused doctor was arrested and a case under Section 304 of the RPC was registered against him. Three days back, assistant surgeon Dr Pardeep Singh operated on one Makhi Devi, wife of Rakesh Kumar in the Ramban Hospital. After the operation, condition of the ailing woman, who was had pains in her lower abdomen, got deteriorated and she was referred to the Government Medical College, Jammu, for advanced treatment where the woman died this morning. As body of the woman reached Ramban this afternoon, people came on streets and resorted to slogan shouting against the authorities. Demanding action against the doctor, who had conducted the operation on Devi, the relatives alleged that the doctor charged money for the operation. They further said the accused doctor was not competent but for money he operated on the patient. Large number of locals joined the woman’s relatives to force the authorities to take action against the ‘erring’ doctor. People alleged that the Ramban Hospital has become a hub of
corruption. After staging protest in front of the hospital, the irate people trooped towards national highway and blocked vehicular movement. Residents blocked national highway for about four hours and hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the road. Assistant deputy commissioner A.S. Sahu and assistant revenue commissioner R.S. Tara rushed to the spot to pacify the agitating people. It was only after the police arrested the doctor and registered a case against him, the agitating residents lifted the
dharna. Tara told The Tribune that the accused doctor has been arrested following a complaint of the family of the deceased woman. He said authorities would take up the matter with the Health Department to initiate some steps to streamline functioning of the Ramban Hospital. Meanwhile, in the evening, the Ramban deputy commissioner ordered an inquiry into the case. R.S. Tara would conduct the inquiry and hand over report to the Deputy Commissioner with a week's time. |
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Sex Scandal
Jammu, May 6 In a public rally, Congress MP Madan Lal Sharma had reportedly raised his finger on Tara Chand and Peerzada for their alleged involvement in the infamous sex scandal. Sharma said to save them he along with Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had rushed to New Delhi seeking clemency from Sonia Gandhi. State BJP vice-president and spokesperson Hari Om today said whatever the Congress spokesperson has said is nothing more than a damage control exercise to save Sonia Gandhi and Ghulam Nabi Azad from the embarrassment and to make Madan Lal Sharma a scapegoat. “Sharma is not that big man, who could afford to concoct things and name Sonia Gandhi and Ghulam Nabi Azad,” said Hari Om. The BJP leader reiterated party stand demanding immediate dismissal of the state government in the wake of fresh controversy. He said the AICC president had to take the nation into confidence about the role she played, which finally clinched the whole issue in favour of Tara Chand and Peerzada. Hari Om said if the Congress really wished to come out of the awkward situation in which it had been placed by the unambiguous admissions of Madan Lal Sharma, it had no other option but to censure both the AICC president and Chief Minister. He said even this would not satisfy the people of the state and added that they want all those involved in the sex scandal and those who shielded the likes of Tara Chand and Peerzada to be booked under the relevant law so that a right message goes to the people. Commenting on the discussions between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on the divisive issue of self-rule in New Delhi, he warned that any move on part of the Prime Minister to consider the ‘draconian’ proposal would force the BJP to launch a nationwide campaign. |
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Amarnath yatra boon for state economy: Board CEO
Srinagar, May 6 Kumar was speaking to a delegation of KCCI led by its president, Mubeen Shah, here this afternoon. Shah said that business establishments dealing with handicrafts, hotels, lodges, and all those connected with tourism trade had large stakes in the yatra and they wanted to play a useful role during the pilgrimage which would give a big boost to economic activity in the valley. In a memorandum presented to the CEO, the chamber raised issues connected with benefits of the yatra to local businessmen and the people, ecology and environment, registration of Amarnath pilgrims and helicopter services, it said. Arun Kumar gave the delegation an overview of the economic benefits generated by the pilgrimage during recent years. To illustrate a few, he said the involvement of locals has been of vital importance for the successful yatra. While the management of housekeeping of prefabricated shelter huts in the Baltal camp and other sites has been completely allotted to the locals, the revenue generation by a local contractor from parking area in Baltal has been to the tune of Rs 21 lakh
last year. Similarly, prasad (offering) of various packs made of local produce has also gone to a local, which fetched him an income of Rs 61 lakh during the yatra last year, he said. The ponies and the labour class remain engaged with the yatra from carrying pilgrims to the holy cave and maintenance of the track on both sides of the shrine. He said local work force also remains engaged in providing tent facilities besides selling various commodities during the yatra. He also cited at example of Vaishno Devi pilgrimage generating economic activity to the tune of Rs 470 crore annually in Katra town and said Amarnath yatra too has a great potential to give economic boost in the valley. |
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Set up tourism body in Banihal: Congress
Udhampur, May 6 Congress leaders pointed out that Ramban district had not given adequate share as far as development of tourist destinations were concerned so Banihal should be given priority. Addressing series of public meetings at
Sainabati, Pogal, Maligam, Gujrara, Pungolga, Basang, Chamalvas,
Hinjhall, Fagoo Bohargam, Krachihaal, Gujjarnar, Chareel, Bankoot,
Hingni, Nowgam, and other far-flung areas of Banihal tehsil, senior Congress leader Sajjad Shaheen demanded that Banihal should be brought on a tourism map. He demanded tehsil status to Ukhral and Ramsoo and sub-district status for
Banihal. |
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Anti-India slogans: HC issues notice to Mirwaiz
Jammu, May 6 The petitioner filed the complaint before the Principal Sessions Judge Jammu, which was transferred to the 2nd Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu. The complaint was dismissed on April 19, 2006. However, the petitioner who claims to be a president of the Janata Party, Jammu and Kashmir unit, prayed before the court for setting aside the orders and forwarded the complaint to independent agencies or crime branch under Section 156 of the CrPC for investigation against
the respondent and his associates. The notice was issued last day in a criminal revision petition seeking investigation against Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and his associate while the complaint was filed through advocate K.J. Singh alleging that on February 2, 2006, the APHC chairman reached Jammu airport
and was received by his followers raising anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans.
— UNI |
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‘Pak terror infrastructure still training ultras’
Jammu, May 6 “The terror infrastructure is intact in Pakistan for training militants. The Pakistani establishment is wary of India’s growth,” Lt-Gen R.K. Karwal, General-Officer-Commanding (GOC), 16 Corps, told a two-day national seminar here on 'Pakistan: past, present and future'. "Terror infrastructure is existing in that country despite the change (in the political scenario) in Pakistan,” he said, adding that Pakistani people, by and large, did not support militants and fundamentalists. “Pakistan is besotted with numerous problems ranging from ethnic feuds, rise of fundamentalist Taliban and lack of economic development. The people in general are also fed up with the US and its association with their country. They see the US as a bigger enemy than the Taliban,” Karwal said, at the seminar organised by the Centre for Regional and Strategic Studies (CRSS) of the University of Jammu and the 16 Corps headquarters. On the economic front, he said while India has made tremendous strides, Pakistan lags behind due to pre-occupation with its internal problems.
— PTI |
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Another killing in Army
Rajouri, May 6 Army sources said naib subedar Lal Bahadur Singh in a clerical job died after he was allegedly shot at by sepoy Inderjeet Singh of Signal Company this morning. Immediately after the incident, the Army arrested the sepoy. “The duo- naib subedar Lal Bahadur Singh and sepoy Inderjeet Singh- were having strained relations after the latter reportedly accused naib subedar of delaying his personal documents. This morning the duo fought over this very issue after which the sepoy allegedly fired at the naib subedar, killing him,” a reliable source said. Defence spokesperson Lt-Col S.D.Goswami told The Tribune that the accused had been arrested and the court of inquiry had been ordered into the incident. Meanwhile, police sources said a case under Section 174 of the CRPC (mysterious killing) had been lodged in the Nowshera police station. |
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Committee to identify languishing projects
Srinagar, May 6 Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced today that he would head the committee to complete these projects. He said the committee would identify the languishing projects, which could be completed with a few lakhs of rupees in a period of about three to four months. He said a process of fast-track implementation of development projects pending for long had been initiated and funds made available for these. He clarified that no new projects would be taken up under this dispensation, adding that replacement of old electric poles and improvement of lanes and drains and blacktopping of internal roads in cities, pending for want of some money would be handled by these funds. He asked legislators to identify the ongoing projects within these parameters. He said the fast-track experiment had been extended to all districts of the state to ensure early completion of ongoing projects pending for want of some funds. — UNI |
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Relief sought for farmers
Jammu, May 6 Talking to a deputation of farmers at party headquarters here today, he expressed regrets over government’s nonchalant attitude towards them.
— TNS |
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