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40 villages shortlisted for uplift
Kathua girl stands tall against odds
Favouritism alleged in Ranji team selections
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Stress-related disorders on rise among youth
Melting Baktol glacier raises concern
Kala Kendra cries for
attention
Gajay Singh Pura village sans basic amenities
Handicrafts top priority for
govt: CM
Rajouri gets a facelift, courtesy President’s visit
Carcasses in sewer a nuisance
Colonies for poor proposed in Jammu, Srinagar
Govt to nail Army’s claim
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40 villages shortlisted for uplift
Srinagar, October 9 This was announced at a public meeting by Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar after the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated model village facilities at Watlar and Shalbug in Ganderbal district near here recently. The minister said under this special programme, Rs 50 lakh would be spent for providing basic amenities in each village. “The programme will be extended to more and more villages year after year to cover all underdeveloped and previously unattended villages,” Sagar said. He gave resume of other activities of his department to achieve betterment and economic welfare of people living in the rural, far-off and backward areas. He said the Rural Development Department was rendering stupendous service to homeless rural people by way of providing financial assistance for constructing and upgrading housing facilities. The Chief Minister on the occasion also distributed cheques worth Rs 27.18 lakh to the beneficiaries under the IAY for the construction of houses. Addressing gathering on the occasion in his home constituency of Ganderbal, the Chief Minister highlighted the major provisions of his government’s policy planning aimed at ameliorating the lot of people, especially inhabitants of the rural and far-off areas. He said the socio-economic transformation of the hitherto left underdeveloped areas would receive the highest priority in the development process kick-started in the state by his government. He said converting every village into a model village by way of upgrading and improving basic amenities and providing better education and health care was his keen interest. Omar said his government was determined to seek speedy uplift of the rural and backward areas to bring them on a par with towns and cities and provide equal opportunities for growth and prosperity. “I am fully acquainted with the difficulties and problems of inhabitants of the rural areas and during my extensive touring, especially to the backward, far-flung and cut-off areas as a public representative, I have fully analysed people’s aspirations for betterment and progress,” he said, adding all these aspects had been incorporated in the state’s development plans. “We are determined to achieve the development goals speedily,” he said. Omar referred to the grant of Rs 639 crore by the Centre to the state for the construction of the Mughal Road project raising the funding pattern between the Centre and the state from 50:50 to 100 per cent fully financed by the Union government. He said: “I had raised this issue with the Prime Minister and the UPA Chairperson during my meetings. I express my gratitude to them for agreeing to my proposal,” he added. He said: “I am also grateful to the leaders for acceding to my other proposal with regard to advancing Rs 356 crore for the compensation to the Dal dwellers so that they are moved out of the water body”. This grant is in addition to Rs 298 crore already sanctioned by the Union government for the conservation of this famous water body, he maintained. |
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Kathua girl stands tall against odds
Jammu, October 9 A month and half after leaving her home, she called upon the Chief Minister to pave her way for her uninterrupted studies. Her confidence stems from the support that she is getting from student organisations - Jammu University Research Students Executive Association (JURSEA), Jan Jagran Manch and Progressive Students Association (PSA). These organisations facilitated her admission at Government College for Women (GCW) in Gandhi Nagar and funded lodging at a private hostel. “My parents do not allow me to study further and want to marry me off. They got me admitted to BA I through distance education, but it is not possible to study properly through this mode. I am not asking for moon if I want to study further to become a lecturer,” she said. Surprisingly, both her parents are well-educated and well-placed. Her mother, Rita Slathia, a teacher at the government school, Kathua says, “We neither stopped our daughter from studying further nor forced her to get married. She studied in convent schools till Class XII. We also sent her for coaching for competitive exams. Since she could not clear CAT exams, so we made her to take admission in BA I through distance education, and arranged for her regular coaching.” “We were shocked not to see her at home on August 21. Next day we came to know from her friend that she had taken admission in GCW,” she added. Her mother also denied Marvi’s allegation of her mother developing closeness to a relative who unduly interrupts in their domestic affair. While refuting the charges, her mother held Marvi’s boyfriend responsible for instigating her. Her father, Sunil Singh Slathia, was also at pains due to her daughter’s rebellious nature. He wanted her to be back. Rita also questioned Principal of GCW for giving her admission when none of her family members were around at
that time. Clarifying her position Prof Nalini Kohli, Principal, GCW Gandhi Nagar said, “Anybody who claims to be the guardian of girls can facilitate the admissions. But yes, we denied her admission in hostel, for the reason, that her parents were not accompanying her.” Slathia couples, who had lodged missing report in the police post on August 21, tried to get her back, but failed when she and other student organisations resisted. Concerned over the girl’s security, SSP Garib Dass said he had sent a letter to the Principal, GCW, to this effect and the 10 individuals who are supporting her. The student organisations have protested vehemently against the SSP’s move. Vikas Sharma, president of the JURSEA, said the SSP’s move was to discourage them to help the girl and let her return to her family, but we would continue to support her. And the police should provide security to her. |
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Favouritism alleged in Ranji team selections
Jammu, October 9 The candidates, who applied for the trail matches, say despite having the highest average and scoring the highest runs in these matches their names were dropped and they were not included in the final team. Rakesh Koul, who was the highest scorer in the trail matches conducted by the Jammu wing, was left out without giving any reasons, besides Vivek Singh, Jagtar Singh and Guru Pratap, all Ranji Trophy players, were also dropped from the final team. “The selectors are motivated with a communal bent of mind, aligned with partiality and without any justification,” said Rakesh. He said I scored 283 runs in five matches whereas they selected players with much lesser scores. Jagtar, who had taken 120 wickets in the Ranji Trophy matches, was also ignored. Vivek Sharma, selector from the Jammu wing of the Ranji Team, said: “Everyone can’t play cricket throughout his life. We have to take into consideration various factors like age, attitude, fitness level, etc”. He said if a player like Sachin Tendulkar gets injured or was not performing well he, too, had to be dropped from the team so there was no question of raising doubts on the integrity of the selectors or the association. “I was the one who conducted the trail matches in the Jammu region and this time the selection was done without any pressure or bias towards anyone,” Sharma said. Meanwhile, the players alleged that if age was the factor, they should have been told prior that they were not eligible to participate in the trail matches. “My age is 34 and they have selected players who are more or less of the same age group as of mine,” Koul said. He said if a player like Sanath Jayasurya could play cricket at the age of 40, then why the players who performed well in the trail matches were left out. The candidates have also raised objections over the selection of the team selectors. “Rule 8 of the JKCA constitution says the selectors ought to be elected by the working committee, but the present selectors have been nominated by the office-bearers, so the credibility of the selectors is also questionable,” Koul added. |
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Stress-related disorders on rise among youth
“Of the total patients reporting at the OPD of Government Psychiatric Diseases Hospital, Jammu, more than 80 per cent of the patients belong to an age group of 20 to 35 years,” reveals Dr Jagdish Raj Thapa, a psychiatrist at the hospital. He says similar is the case with indoor patients in the hospital. “Such cases occur primarily because of two reasons. First, the youth is over ambitious and secondly, there is a mounting pressure of expectations of parents”. “It will be incorrect to say that only people in their old age lose their mental balance. We are treating patients as young as 16 years,” discloses Dr Thapa. Besides academic or professional failure, failed love relationships are also contributing to stress-related disorders amongst youth. “In most of the cases where love affair goes awry, the boy or the girl fails to bear the shock and develops some sort of disorder”. Citing other reasons, he says it could be because of factors like genetic, death in the family, marital disharmony or marriages ending in divorce, job loss etc. “The major components that constitute personality of an individual are behaviour, emotion and perception. Even if one component gets disturbed, it can lead to disintegration of the personality,” he says, adding that negative thinking further raises the stress level. “Generally people don’t notice such behavioural changes in their children but if the same are not rectified at an early stage, the disease could take dangerous proportions,” the psychiatrist says. Medical science differentiates mental disorders in two major categories, major and minor psychiatric illness. “In a majority of cases, patients suffer from minor psychiatric disorders. Psychosis is the most prominent form of disorder which is further classified into schizophrenia, maniac depression psychosis (MDP). It’s in MDP where more than 80 per cent of the patients commit suicide”. “Generally, people fail to differentiate between hysteria and epilepsy. A patient under the influence of this disease gets fits of unconsciousness and even paralysis”. “Even in the age of science, parents rush their children suffering from such disorders to faith-healers rather than to a psychiatrist,” he adds. Dr Thapa informs that several young patients belong to militancy affected areas and border areas. Besides, there are several migrants who are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. “Continuous stress leads to psychosomatic disorders like diabetes, heart ailments, abnormal blood pressure, ulcer and malfunctioning of endocrine, asthma, skin diseases etc” he concludes. |
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Melting Baktol glacier raises concern
Srinagar, October 9 The glacier connects Wadwan (in Kishtwar, Jammu) with Kargil (in Ladakh). Previously, the route used to be popular among tourists for trekking from Jammu to Ladakh via Kashmir. “Baktol is a huge glacier covering 18 km. It extends from Kanital to Donara. The distance has to be covered in a single day as you can’t camp on it, irrespective of the weather conditions,” says Rauf Tramboo, an adventure tour operator. He says a new lake has been formed at one place which was not there earlier. “There are many mountain lakes at the glacier. A strong earthquake can lead to immense problems as many villages would come under water”. “The glacier is melting at an alarming pace. Its crevasses have become so big and wide that it becomes hard to cross. Earlier, it took 5-8 hours to walk across, now it takes 10 hours,” says Tramboo, who was part of a six-day survey-cum-trekking expedition organised by the Department of Tourism, Kashmir, after 20 years in August this year. The expedition team included 10-12 persons, comprising academicians, medical practitioner, adventure lovers and officials from the Wildlife Trust of India. The adventure tour operator says, “If glaciers keep melting at this rate, we will face a scarcity of water and there would be no vegetation. It would hamper
the movement of tourists, besides affecting the economy. Fundamentally, it would change everything”. He says, “We counted 14 glaciers in a day, small and big. A lot of changes like melting of glacier and water changing its course have taken place over the last 20 years”. Tramboo says, “For adventure lovers, it is sad to see a road up to Inshan. A road has also been built over the Margan pass as well. Though it might be of great relief for local residents, we lost a few kilometers of trekking as previously, trekking started from Duksum to Wadwan”. Abdul Majid, a local resident, says though the road has been constructed after several decades, it has been of great convenience to them. He, however, adds that better road connectivity has increased timber smuggling. Majid says it was in 1984 that the road started coming up. “Finally, it came up in 2009, but still it is
not macadamised”. |
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Kala Kendra cries for
attention
Jammu, October 9 In the absence of society members, there is no governing body to maintain the complex and accomplish the purpose for which this cultural centre was set up. The irony is that not a single cultural or art-related function has been conducted at the complex during the past four months. While the ground floor is in the custody of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, the first floor houses Dogra Art Museum being looked after by the State Archives Department. Its 28 kanals is under the occupation of the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC). Interestingly, the visitor book reveals that not more than 100 people have visited the museum this summer, as the same remains closed most of the time. Informed sources said a society for the Kala Kendra was set up in 1996 with eminent personalities Prof Ram Nath Shastri, Ghulam Rasool Santosh and Tashi Rabgyas representing the Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions. The Jammu Development Authority (JDA) had provided over 71 kanals free of cost for the construction of the kendra and its future expansion. Since then, no serious work has been done, except the formation of the Interim Managing Committee in 2005. The committee was entrusted the job to look after the affairs of the kendra under the chairmanship of divisional commissioner, Jammu, with vice-chairman, JDA, director, archives, and secretary, Cultural Academy, as the members, the sources said. The government had accorded sanction to accommodate the gallery of modern art to be managed by the Cultural Academy and the first floor by the Archives Department to install Dogra Art Museum. The JDA, the department and the academy were also provided funds to carry out interior layout, equip the galleries and make the studios functional. However, till date, nothing concrete has been done and where the money has gone is itself a mystery, the sources said. They said the required society did not exist as all three basic members, representing equal regions, had expired. Even after the death of Shastri, Santosh and Rabgyas, no artist has been nominated to the society. The sources recalled that since the society was formed during the Governor’s Rule in 1996 and with the installation of the government, it needed an amendment. However, the same has not been done all these years. Soujayana Sharma, administrator, Kala Kendra, said in the absence of the funds, besides non-formation of the society, he was helpless to take any decision. “The fate of the kendra is to be decided and the committee has to come forward to run the centre. However, in the state of uncertainty as to whose baby the kendra is, no organisation is willing to accomplish the job,” regretted Sharma, who has also been posted as CEO, Mansar Development Authority. Sharma added that there were no funds for the maintenance of the kendra and it was becoming difficult to even cut unwanted grass within the campus
or to replace broken window panes. |
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Gajay Singh Pura village sans basic amenities
Jammu, October 9 An abandoned village has been provided a pebbled link road of around 700 yards length only a few years ago by their erstwhile MLA Mula Ram. They never had the glimpse of their new MLA whom they had expected to get the level of this road raised and also get it blacktopped to make it motorable. “The callous attitude of the government can be gauged from the fact that one SSA School provided to this villages is lying closed for the past many years. With the result, people send their children around 3 km away to a government primary school in Macchalian village,” said Rakesh Sharma, a resident of the village. Female folk and senior citizens are the most affected. There is neither a first-aid centre nor a dispensary in the village or in its vicinity. For a petty ailment, a patient has to be shifted to the city, which is a costly affair for the poor villagers. Non-availability of any mode of public transport to carry a patient adds to their problems. “In case of delivery, the patient is to be lifted to SMGS, Jammu. During the odd hours, the cost of carrying such a patient becomes unbearable,” said Rakesh. Last year, a 26-year-old boy of the village, who met with an accident, could not be saved because of the absence of any transport facility. School-going children are bearing many hurdles in continuing their education. Around 50 schoolchildren of this village have to walk on foot almost 3 km to reach their school in Macchalian village. “Be it the scorching heat or the rain, they have no alternative but to face it squarely,” said Yashpal Sharma, another villager. “Many children have to skip school during the year on account of extreme heat or rains. There is neither any motorable link road to this village nor any public transport facility available to the children,” he added. “At least one minibus service should be provided to us to enable the children to attend the school,” he demanded. Agriculture is the main economy of this small hamlet. They have no tractors to till their land. Bulls are the only means for the farmers to till their lands. If their cattle need medical treatment, they have to go 7 km away from their village to Domana. Electricity poles are placed at huge distances at three locations in the village. The wires swing with a slightest wind making every possibility for a fault to occur. “Repeated requests to the authorities to provide three additional electricity poles in the village have fallen on deaf ears,” rued Gopal Das, another villager. |
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Handicrafts top priority for
govt: CM
Srinagar, October 9 Inaugurating a crafts museum at Kashmir Haat here last evening, Omar Abdullah said the sector's development was a priority for the government. "Our handicrafts are second to none in the world. They are a great source of livelihood to thousands of people and also embed our rich art and culture. The government has made this sector a priority for its all-round development", he said. Abdullah said handicrafts were a boost for the tourism sector whose growth was vital for the economic development and creation of job opportunities. "More than four lakh people visited Kashmir this year and it is a good sign. We must endeavour to rope in more visitors by contributing in the peace and development process", he said. Omar asked the Handicrafts Department to showcase the museum as a centre of heritage preservation and help students and tourists appreciate Kashmiri handicrafts and the art of its production. The craft museum was a way of living for the artisans who are engaged here in the production of handicrafts, he said. The museum had been set up by the School of Design and housed various sections in crafts like carpet, kani shawl weaving, tapestry, embroidery, willow work, wood carving and sozni embroidery, among others. Industries Minister S S Slathia who was also present at the ceremony, said the stipend of trainees in various handicraft centres in the state should be increased to encourage them. Slathia also spoke of the traders who sold goods prepared outside the state in the name of Kashmiri handicrafts and warned of severe action. "This brings a bad name to our state", he said, adding that " any government functionary found in such unscrupulous activity will be seriously punished".
— PTI |
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Preferred venue for protests
Demonstrations have become a common feature not only in this capital city, but also in different parts of the valley. These demonstrations range from demands for the release of detained separatist leaders or against human rights violations, government employees seeking fulfilment of their demands and payment of wages, particularly PSUs, the unemployed seeking jobs, and the common man’s cry over shortage of essential items, water, power or dilapidated roads. Every concerned lot in Srinagar has only one destination for lodging these protests, where they get access to both the print and electronic media channels. The venue is not the city’s nerve centre of Lal Chowk, but a small pocket in its vicinity adjacent to Pratap Park. The cluster of government houses, where the offices of many media organisations are located, provides the demonstrators with a suitable place for holding demonstrations. As they raise of their voice(even a smaller group of 10 persons) the protesters attract a good number of reporters, videographers and photographers to cover their grievances. There is hardly any day that the place remains quite without the raising of any slogans like “we want justice”, “Hamaree mangein poori Karo” etc. (See picture) Bomb blast?
So what!
A few tourists, including a foreigner couple, were among those present at the site of a grenade blast in Lal Chowk on October 6. Their contrasting responses to the deafening explosion were very much a reflection on different societies they came from and their priorities. The European couple was frightened and said so. “That was our worst fear about Kashmir. I am scared to bone that it happened not very far from us,” the man said, still clasping the hand of his woman companion. The bunch of Bengalis seemed more excited watching all police exercises and frenetic media crew, not scared much by the terror act. “India mein yeah hota rehta hai. Jab jana hoga tab chale jayenge (These things keep happening in India. We will all die when destiny wishes so),” an elderly man said. A matter of
concern
The increasing number of dishes in Kashmiri ‘wazwan’ [feast served during marriages] is becoming a matter of concern for many. It does not only have socio-economic implications but also health concern. The increase in the number of dishes not only widens the gap between haves and havenots, but also leads to other social evils as well. In a way, the dowry system gets encouraged and crime against women is enhanced. Besides, tones of rice and meat is wasted. There are many families who yearn for a morsel of food. Small efforts of help would mean a lot of happiness in their lives, besides leading to progress and prosperity. It would, however, take us years to realise the same. Instead of spending money lavishly on marriage parties, people ought to invest the same in other projects that can be used to generate employment and facilitate other avenues in the state. (Contributed by Ehsan Fazili, Kumar Rakesh and Afsana Rashid) |
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Rajouri gets a facelift, courtesy President’s visit
Rajouri, October 9 Locals say the authorities not only painted the dividers on the road, the routes from where President’s caravan would move have been cleared of debris and garbage. “I have never seen preparations of such a level for the visit of any dignitary. The road from Mandi area to 25 Infantry Division headquarters has been cleared of vendors”, says Yograj Sharma, a resident. “The roads leading to the division headquarters of 25 Infantry Division were dotted with garbage and cow dung everywhere, but everything has been cleared now”. A senior officer in the district administration says they have worked day and night to spruce up the area. “We made every effort to ensure that the President gets a good impression about the town. So we left no stone unturned to give an aesthetic look to the town”. |
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Carcasses in sewer a nuisance
Jammu, October 9 The residents and shopkeepers of the area alleged that animals, which die due to the rashly driven vehicles on roads, are thrown into the drain during the night. They further alleged that the Municipal Corporation does not bother about the problem being faced by
the people. Being the busiest road junction, routine traffic jams during the morning and evening hours are witnessed here, but due to the foul smell which comes out of this drain makes it difficult for any vehicle to stop near it. “Due to the foul smell which emits out of the drain, all vehicle drivers try to flee away from the place quickly, which can lead to an accident anytime,” said Vikram Sharma, a resident of the area. Ram Kumar, a shopkeeper of the area, said: “Whenever any dog dies in a road accident, his carcass is usually dumped into it. The body of the animal decomposes and breeds flies and mosquitoes, besides spreading foul smell in the surrounding areas.” |
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Colonies for poor proposed in Jammu, Srinagar
Srinagar, October 9 "We are planning to develop modern housing colonies at various places in Srinagar and Jammu to rehabilitate displaced families of the Jhelum and the economically weaker sections of society," Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand said. Chand, who also holds charge of the Housing and Urban Development Department, said about Rs 3.5 crore are proposed to be spent on these colonies during the current financial year. "About 300 hectares of land has already been notified for the purpose," he said. He said one more mini housing colony was being developed at Bemina at a cost of about Rs 12.94 crore. An amount of Rs 2.80 crore had already been spent on the project. Chand said housing colonies for the economically weaker sections were being developed at Udheywala, Ploura, Gole Gujral and Bhagwati Nagar In Jammu.
— PTI |
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Govt to nail Army’s claim
Leh, October 9 Countering the claims in an affidavit filed in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, the state government had readied its reply which pointed to "gross irregularities" in the Army's claim that its officers could not be prosecuted by the state police as the Ladakh region fell within the ambit of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. The state government will now inform the High Court on October 15, the next date of hearing, that Ladakh district is not within the ambit of the AFSPA and that no one was permitted to violate the law, official sources said.
— PTI |
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It has been a tough ordeal for Marvi Salathia so far, who hails from small town Hatli Morh in Kathua, to fulfil her dreams against her parents’ wishes.
A month and half after leaving her home, she called upon the Chief Minister to pave her way for her uninterrupted studies. Her confidence stems from the support that she is getting from student organisations - Jammu University Research Students Executive Association, Jan Jagran Manch and Progressive Students Association.
Srinagar diary
Jammu, October 9