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Ansari for reconstructing state’s economy
Vice-President Hamid Ansari addresses the 17th convocation of Kashmir University in Srinagar
on Saturday.
Unprecedented security for Vice-President’s visit
Troops Withdrawal |
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Azad inaugurates tourism projects
Degrees should not be sole goal
of education: Vohra
Financial Loss to Corporation
Need to spread AIDS awareness in remote areas: Lone
Coaching camp for special kids
3,500 pilgrims have darshan
VHP’s advisory to Amarnath pilgrims
Zangskari women showcase woollen products in the fair in Leh on Saturday.
Photo by Yangchan Dolma
JU examination wing to be computerised
Hideout busted
Leopard captured
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Ansari for reconstructing state’s economy
Srinagar, June 20 Delivering his convocation address at the 17th convocation of the Kashmir University here this afternoon, the Vice-President said better education and health for the youths led to inclusive growth. He said the youth of the state, like in the rest of the country, wanted to “fulfil their potential, lead lives with dignity and honour and contribute to their communities and the nation”. He assured that the government was committed to enabling this for heralding a new future for the people of the state. Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Pro-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor Riyaz Punjabi, members of various faculties and awardees were present at the first convocation held at the newly constructed convocation complex on the Hazratbal campus. Ansari stressed the need to focus on creating adequate facilities for technical and vocational education, for skill upgrading and improving employability of the youth. “New opportunities in the service sector, including the IT industry, must be made available to the youth of the state,” he stated. Referring to his earlier association with the state as chairman of a working group constituted by the Prime Minister on confidence building measures, Ansari said the group had also focused on the youth. The report submitted to the Central government had been appreciated by the Prime Minister, who had said the implementation of the recommendations would be the key to retaining the confidence of the people. “The focus, above all, has to be on self-development,” the Vice-President said while concluding his address. He added that in the present day world “new integrating impulses have gone beyond national boundaries”. Pointing to the interplay between identity and integration in the 21st century, he held that living in isolation was not an option. “Integration is necessary and desirable; assimilation is neither desirable nor practical,” he said. He added that the only workable arrangement for the country was accommodation in a constitutional and democratic framework. Ansari pointed out that the youth in the age group of 15 and 35 years constituted nearly 40 per cent of the country’s total population that was the same in the case of Jammu and Kashmir. He added that this group represented the most vibrant and dynamic demographic segment and constituted potentially the most valuable human resource. |
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Unprecedented security for Vice-President’s visit
Srinagar, June 20 The separatist-sponsored strike brought normal life to a standstill, making police’s job of restricting and checking people’s movement easier. Business establishments and shops remained closed in response to the call given by hard line faction of the Hurriyat Conference, officials said. Educational institutions, banks, courts and semi-government institutions remained closed in Srinagar and elsewhere, they said, adding attendance in government offices was ‘negligible’ mainly due to the absence of public and private transport. Firdous Dar was killed while his two other accomplices were injured when an IED they were making went off accidentally on Thursday night. Dar, who worked in the university’s exchange, was manufacturing explosives at a house not very far from the varsity. The police had sealed off the roads leading to the university and nobody except VIPs and those with invites for the ceremony were allowed to come even close to the university. Many people termed the restrictions ‘unprecedented’ and a DSP-level officer supervising security said the blast in Lal Bazaar, which is adjacent to the university, on May 18 evening had induced panic among them. Those living in the nearby areas were the worst sufferers and preferred to remain indoors. The road to the university from the Lal Bazaar locality was closed for traffic and those heading for the university for the event took a long detour to reach the back gate at Naseem Bagh. Even mediapersons bore the brunt of the stringent security measures and a majority of them were not allowed to enter government vehicles carrying the Press men to the university. |
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Govt toeing PDP’s line: Mehbooba Tribune News Service
Jammu, June 20 However, she said eventually the NC and the Congress had started toeing the PDP’s line on the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the withdrawal of troops from the state. Mehbooba exuded confidence that dual currency in the state would be a reality soon. Responding to media queries here this afternoon after she abruptly ended her speech as she felt giddy during a party convention, Mehbooba said, “We always believed that with improvement in the situation we should do away with certain things like the AFSPA and troops presence because they had been a constant source of friction. “I am happy to say that today Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, his father Farooq Abdullah and Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram endorse our stand,” she added. However, she regretted that when the PDP talked about scrapping the AFSPA and troops cut, it was branded as anti-national. She minced no words in criticising Omar’s six months in office. “If protests and grenade explosions were the major failure of his government, dearth of ration had also hit every village in the state today,” she said, adding governance did not seem to be working anywhere. After the Shopian incident it took seven days for this government to register an FIR, she said. The guilty police officer was given a better posting while the Chief Minister tried to downplay the incident describing it an ordinary crime. She also put a question mark on the Omar government vis-ŕ-vis increase in killings by ‘unidentified gunmen’ in the valley.
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Azad inaugurates tourism projects
Jammu, June 20 “The last two decades of violence witnessed in the state have forced development to take the back seat. We are trying our best to cover up the loss, but it is not possible unless we collectively rise against such elements as hold the public at ransom at the cost of development,” Azad said while addressing a massive public rally at Khilani. At Doda, he inaugurated a mini Tourist Reception Centre and a viewpoint-cum-tourism cafeteria near Chenab river constructed at a cost of Rs 54 lakh. He also laid the foundation stone of forest-based management project for Doda city to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 142.82 lakh. Expressing concern over the slow execution of construction of stadium and new district hospital complex at Doda, Azad asked the executing agencies to double their efforts and complete all ongoing works within stipulated time frame. He asked MP Sham Lal to personally intervene and ascertain the reasons in delay for getting the project completed within the targeted time. At Bhaderwah, the Union Minister visited Herbal garden Pilot Project developed at Drudhu which has proved to be a successful venture. He said the herbal garden was a repository of some rare herbs brought from other parts of the country and the seeds developed in the nursery would be distributed to local farmers for their commercial cultivation. This, he said, would give tremendous fillip to local agrarian economy. Azad said yesterday he would do his best to provide all around development to the state as he was fully aware about the problems in all sectors of the state. He said he would make sure that all pending projects would be completed and new projects would also start off in time by facilitating funds. He added that the developmental projects started by him as the Chief Minister would continue with the support of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. He gave direction to all officers related to these developmental projects to accomplish them in stipulated time by making right use of the funds allocated for the purpose. He supported public demand for a trauma center at Tikri on the National Highway. |
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Degrees should not be sole goal
of education: Vohra
Srinagar, June 20 Vohra was addressing the 17th convocation of the university on its Hazratbal campus here today. The prominent among those present on the occasion included Prof Saifudin Soz, Prof Rehman Rahi, Prof Hamidi Kashmiri, Pirzada Muhammad Sayyed. The university held its first convocation on the campus after a gap of 25 years, while some of these convocations were held at the SKICC during previous years. It was also for the first time that the convocation was held at the newly constructed convocation complex, which came up after a gap of about 24 years. Vohra gave away gold and silver medals, besides the certificates of merit to students in various subjects, including social science, medicine, surgery, arts, science, management, law, business administration and education. The Governor said it was a matter of significance that the university had been accredited grade ‘A’ by NAAC. “Over the course of time, the university has grown both in its outreach and standards of teaching and research. It is still growing and would therefore need to continuously upgrade its facilities. The 11th Plan places very high priority on education as a crucial instrument for rapidly achieving inclusive growth, with specific emphasis on excellence and quality,” he said. The Chancellor said securing certificates, degrees and diplomas should not be construed as the end of the educational process. “The culmination of a given educational programme must be viewed as the starting point for acquiring further knowledge,” he said. He added, “I hope bright scholars, who are leaving the portals of this university, shall give due thought to contributing to the socio-economic development of villages and towns they hail from. Such service would immensely benefit the state, besides bring credit to their alma mater”. In his address, university Vice-Chancellor Riyaz Punjabi presented a detailed report about the achievements and development of the university over the years. “We are committed to transforming our state into a knowledge society that creates, shares, and uses knowledge for the prosperity and well-being of its people. We are focusing our attention on the creation of new and useful knowledge through innovative research, its dissemination through quality teaching and its implication for inclusive growth of the society,” he said. |
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Withdrawal of pension legal: HC
DS Chauhan
Jammu, June 20 SP Gupta, while working as divisional manager, National Insurance Co. Ltd., Hoshiarpur division, settled a fraudulent claim of Rs 7,02,873 and in the process caused financial loss to the company by allowing on account payment of Rs 2 lakh by exceeding his financial authority. Resultantly, an inquiry was initiated against the petitioner and an order was passed on May 27, 2002, of withdrawal of pension permanently. Since the petitioner had already retired after attaining the age of superannuation in 1998, therefore, major penalty including removal/dismissal from service or reduction to lower rank or compulsory retirement could not be imposed. However, by invoking provisions of Rule 45 and 47 of the General Insurance (Employees) Pension Scheme, 1995, the respondents permanently withheld the petitioner’s pension. Simultaneously, an FIR was lodged against him before the Special Judge, CBI, Patiala (Punjab), wherein, the petitioner stood convicted and punishment of two years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000 came to be imposed upon him. Against the order of conviction, he filed an appeal before the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh, when only the sentence awarded to petitioner was stayed. Justice Sunil Hali, while dismissing the writ petition, observed: “The Corporation is well within its right to withhold or withdraw a pension wholly or part thereof in case petitioner is found guilty of grave misconduct or negligence during the period of his service by the criminal court or in any departmental proceedings. It seems that the present order has been passed taking into consideration the inquiry conducted under the Conduct Rules as well as order of conviction recorded by the criminal court. The conviction recorded by the trial court is sufficient to attract the provisions of General Insurance (Employees) Pension Scheme, 1995, for withholding the pension permanently. In view of the above, I find no force in this petition, the same is dismissed along with connected CMPs.”
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Need to spread AIDS awareness in remote areas: Lone
Srinagar, June 20 “There was a time when people treated AIDS patients as untouchables, but we have moved ahead with passage of time. Doctors should move out of city and concentrate on the rural areas while disseminating information about AIDS and its ramifications,” said Lone, while speaking at inaugural function held here in connection with HIV/AIDS update. The update was held at Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, and it was jointly organised by the AIDS Society of India (ASI) and Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, SKIMS. He said lifestyle of students living outside the state for higher studies in the universities cross India needed to be looked into. “The ratio of HIV+ cases may comparatively be less in our state, but that doesn’t mean we should be complacent,” he added. Lone said doctors alone should not be expected to counsel people about the AIDS, other sections of society, too, had a role to play in this respect. SKIMS director Prof Abdul Hameed Zargar said, “Here at SKIMS we have so far screened 30,000-35,000 persons and out of this 292 cases have been detected as HIV positives.”
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Coaching camp for special kids
Srinagar, June 20 The coaching camp is being organised from June 22 to 28 and the same is being held under the banner of Special Olympics, Bharat Punjab chapter. Special children belonging to Life Help Center for Child Care, Barzulla, Chotay Taray Foundation, Rajbagh, Shafaqat School, Bemina and Help Line Humanity Welfare Organisation, Anantnag, are going to take part in the national coaching camp. Five special children have been selected from each of the centres which is set up for the special children. This is for the second time that special athletes of the state are participating in the camp. The special athletes would leave Srinagar on June 20 and they are expected to reach Jammu the next day. Their journey has been arranged by SSP (Traffic) Kifayat Haider. At Jammu, the athletes would stay at Youth Hostel, Nagrota, and from thereon they would proceed for Amritsar. P Rajan, project coordinator, said, events like Special Olympics make tremendous change in lives of millions of special children across the country. |
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3,500 pilgrims have darshan
Srinagar, June 20 JAMMU: The third batch comprising 1,935 pilgrims left the Yatri Niwas base camp here this morning for onward journey to the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir. Giving details, Benam Tosh, SP and security in charge of the base camp here, told The Tribune
that a fresh batch of 1,935 pilgrims, including 325 women, 54 children and 704 sadhus, left the base camp around 5 am in a convoy of 41 buses and eight light motor vehicles. “Since the pilgrimage began on June 15, it was the first batch of 704 sadhus, which left for the cave shrine,” added Tosh. Over 500 sadhus had staged a protest here yesterday resenting delay and poor facilities at a lodging centre exclusively meant for them. On June 15, a total of 900 pilgrims had left the base camp for Baltal, followed by 1,860 pilgrims on June 19. The total number of pilgrims having left the Yatri Niwas for Baltal stands at 4,695. At present, the authorities were allowing only the Baltal route for the annual pilgrimage as the Pahalgam route had not been fully cleared of snow. |
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VHP’s advisory to Amarnath pilgrims
Jammu, June 20 Addressing mediapersons here today, state VHP president Ramakant Dubey advised the pilgrims to avoid the use of incense sticks, flowers, mobile phones and creating noise, as they would adversely affect the ice lingam. He said a seven-member Nyas delegation recently met Governor NN Vohra and submitted some suggestions to ensure a hassle-free annual yatra. The Governor gave a positive response to the proposals put forth by us, he added. The delegation’s suggestions included exemption from toll tax for the vehicles of pilgrims at Lakhanpur and Lower Munda, a booklet informing the pilgrims about dos and don’ts during the yatra, involving a bank in addition to Jammu and Kashmir Bank for registration purposes, separate lodging arrangements for sadhus and saints at Pahalgam, a chopper service from Jammu to the cave shrine etc. |
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Self-help group fair concludes
Leh, June 20 There were over 70 hand-made woollen products of sheep, yak and Pashmina goat in the fair, which showed the glimpse of their traditional skill. Ladakh and Lahual Spiti-based group of NGOs organised the event. Chemet of Leh Nutrition Project, one of the organisers, said, “The fair is organised to revive the traditional skills of the remote areas of the Himalayan regions by marketing their products. Leh was chosen for this purpose as it is one of the most popular tourist place in the Himalayan region.” Tsering Dolker from Zangskar said, “Self-help group provided an opportunity to generate our income and interact with different people.”
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JU examination wing to be computerised
Jammu, June 20 “The Examination Wing will be made fully computerised in order to prevent such a mistake in future. Strict verification will also be carried out before employing any daily wager in the wing,” RD Sharma, controller, examination, University of Jammu, said. “Majority of work in this department is handled manually, which is considered as one of the main reasons for occurrence of such discrepancies in the marklists,” Sharma said. According to sources, a similar kind of scandal was unearthed in 2006. Sharma said presently there were nearly 150 employees working in this wing, out of which 60 employees are daily wagers and contractual employees. |
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Hideout busted
Jammu, June 20 The recovery, made by troops of the 14 Punjab Regiment and the 158 Territorial Army, included 5 kg RDX, 21 boxes of IED, 1,177 rounds of AK rifles two rocket launchers and 79 grenades, officials said. 3 hurt in animal attacks
Three persons were injured in separate incidents of animal attack in Poonch and Rajouri districts today, the police said here. A bear attacked a couple in the forest belt of Baderdin in Surankote in Poonch district, the police said, adding villagers rushed to the spot after hearing their cries and forced the bear to flee. In another incident, a leopard entered a cowshed and attacked Babi Begum in the Dalgoda area of Rajouri. The animal, however, fled seeing villagers. The injured were hospitalised, the police said.
— PTI |
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Leopard captured
Jammu, June 20 The leopard killed some goats of villager Jurmat Din in Gurdan Bala village in Thanamandi
tehsil. Wildlife conservator PK Singh said the leopard was tranquilised, captured and then left to its habitat, 50 km far from the site of occurrence, on Thursday. No body was injured in the entire operation. |
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Vice-President Hamid Ansari here today stressed the need for reconstructing the economy of Jammu and Kashmir ravaged by two decades of militancy by utilising the potential of the youth to get out of the “backwardness trap” of the low economic activity.
