|
|
|
|
SRTC strike stalemate on
Private docs make hay as medicos’ stir continues
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Tale of two brave girls, who met different fates
This panwala wants Amitabh to set up cancer hospital for poor
GMCH’s neurosurgery unit ill-equipped
State's only cactus garden in bad shape
MC set to purchase four road-sweeping machines
Diwali Festival
Bollywood ‘returns’ to Kashmir
Jammu Diary
|
|
SRTC strike stalemate on
Jammu, October 13 On the other hand the government says it has no funds but is ready to spare only Rs 10.5 crore at the moment for the SRTC staff; making the impasse continue. While the employees say that they want nothing less than the pending salaries of the past five months the government says it does not have sufficient funds to release the salaries in one go. The employees have been demanding immediate release of their salaries for two months with the previous slabs, but the other three with the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations. There are around 4316 SRTC employees who have been demanding their pending salaries. "Our main demand is our salaries. Secondly, the department has been deducting amount for our GP and CP funds for the past 10 years, but it was not being deposited anywhere. The government should immediately deposit that amount in our accounts. The government should also constitute a departmental promotion committee (DPC) to look into the promotions of employees below the rank of booking manager," says Ashok Mehra, president of the SRTC Employees Union. Due to the ongoing strike which is about to complete two months, around 672 buses and 425 trucks of the department have been grounded. "The government is losing Rs 20 lakh per day due to the ongoing strike," said Anoop Kannaw, MD of the SRTC. He said the department did not have enough funds to fulfil all demands of the employees. Though the SRTC had proposed to pay the salaries of three months, the employees refused to accept the offer. "The present monthly burden on the state exchequer on account of the salaries of SRTC employees is Rs 3.5 crore whereas if the government accepts their demands the burden would rise to Rs 5.5 crore a month whereas the total monthly revenue of the SRTC is only Rs 6 crore" Kannaw said. Besides, the government had to spend on the maintenance and fuel of the vehicles. The employees union says that the only solution to their problems was that like other states, the state government should convert the corporation into a government enterprise, making the government responsible for the profit-and-loss account of the corporation and the employees should not be left to suffer. The State Transport Department has sought a grant of Rs 300 crore from the 13th Finance Commission to "revive" the corporation. Meanwhile, the government employees who were getting a fare concession for travel on the SRTC buses are suffering as they now have to pay the full fares to private vehicles.
|
|
Private docs make hay as medicos’ stir continues
Jammu, October 13 Sources said normally, private hospitals had 50 per cent bed occupancy, but in the wake of the strike, the same are running to full capacity. “Be it the number of indoor or OPD patients, we are witnessing a sudden rush,” said director of a leading private hospital in the city. Due to the agitation, the OPD and general surgeries have been affected in Government Medical College (GMC) and its associated hospitals in the city. Services at all district and sub-district hospitals, and primary as well as community health centres are also crippled. “Usually, we use to perform five or six general surgeries but these days, we are doing nearly 10-12 surgeries,” said a surgeon at a private hospital. “We appeal to the protesting doctors as well as the government to find some solution as it is the poor who are becoming a victim of the situation,” patients at the GMC hospital said. “My sister had to be operated for some malfunctioning in the gallbladder. There is no hope in sight as the government seems to be callous towards the plight of patients. Now, we are going to some private nursing home,” said Dinesh Kumar at GMC hospital. “If not OPD, at least surgeries must go on. Healthcare cannot be compromised,” he added. “We appeal the government to come out with a clear stand as different statements from its side have been pouring in,” said Satyainder Singh, president of the Doctors Joint Action Committee. “Today, the Junior Doctors Association, Kashmir, also announced to strike OPD services on Friday and Saturday. From Sunday, onwards they will stay away from emergency services if the demands were not fulfilled,” he added.
|
|
Tale of two brave girls, who met different fates
Jammu, October 13 One of the women, Rukhsana Kausar of Kalsian village in the Upper Shahdra Sharief area, 35 km from Rajouri, hogged the limelight for killing a militant and wounding another with an axe. Her brave act seems to have avenged hundreds or thousands of girls who have fallen prey to the lust of militants or uniformed men in the two decades of militancy. Besides getting accolades from all over, Rukhsana went on to meet President Pratibha Patil for her act. However, another woman, also a Muslim, who defied social norms by opting to marry a man of her choice, was left a widow after her husband, who belonged to another religion, died under mysterious circumstances in police custody. Rajneesh Sharma and Anchal Sharma, both aged 26 and 25 respectively, had every right to choose their life partner. But still, Rajneesh was booked by the Srinagar police for kidnapping the girl and was allegedly killed in its custody. The postmortem report has exposed the police claims that he was not beaten. The report says not only was he beaten but there were a number of injury marks that suggested that he was subjected to third degree torture. “What wrong did we do?” asks Anchal, alias Amina, while talking to The Tribune. “I have every right to choose my husband. If my brother can marry a girl of other religion, why can’t I do so?” Anchal stands tall among many victims of bloodshed over inter-religion marriages. She is probably the only one or one of the few, who returned to her in-laws’ house, despite threat to her life from her family. “My parents and my brothers are responsible for the murder of my husband. They should be punished for this,” She said. Usually, in such cases, most of the girls give statement in the favour of her parents due to pressure. But Anchal is a courageous woman and despite being alone, she is openly confronting her family. “My parents and the police hounded us like anything ever since we got married. Were we criminals? My husband was tortured and beaten up as he was a hardcore militant. What recovery the cops wanted from him?” she wailed asking these questions.
|
|
This panwala wants Amitabh to set up cancer hospital for poor
Jammu, October 12 “Please do something for cancer patients, especially those who can’t afford their treatment”. This is the message to Amitabh Bachchan on his 67th birthday by Ashok Gupta, who runs Amitabh Pan House near Raghunath Temple here. He is not having any celebrations due to two deaths in his family. His wife, Neena Gupta, succumbed to cancer last month while his father, Kundan lal Gupta, died of shock immediately thereafter. Ashok Gupta was 13 when he started celebrating Amitabh’s birthday “He is a god for me. I have copied his hairstyle,” he said. He changes the spectacles as and when Amitabh changes his. “The treatment was very costly and there is no hospital in Jammu. I have never met Amitabh and don’t want him to give money to me or others. I just want that Amitabh should help set up a cancer hospital for the poor.” He said. “I wish my wife had married off our three daughters in her life.” He said Ashok is much sought after by people and media on October 11 every year. “I prepared a collage of pictures of Big B to be garlanded on this birthday.” He tried to meet Amitabh twice when he was in Jammu for a function but“ The security cover was so tight that I could not even see him,” He rued. Ashok’s family has been running the shop for the past 55 years. The shop is decked with several pictures of the superstar. “I adore and worship him,” says Ashok Gupta.”
|
|
GMCH’s neurosurgery unit ill-equipped
Jammu, October 13 Presently, the department has just two neurosurgeons who have been attending to critical accident victims. The neurosurgeons as well as patients have to suffer in the absence of an operation theatre and other basic infrastructure. Official sources reveal that as of now, the department of neurosurgery is clubbed with the general surgery department. Consequently, both departments have to common infrastructure, which is hampering their functioning. The sources say the neurosurgeons have to wait for carrying out routine surgeries. While other units of the hospital have five to six doctors, besides specialists and an HoD, the neurosurgery unit has only two doctors. “Considering the hilly terrain, roads accidents occur quite frequently, especially in Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch. With no neurosurgeon available at the district hospitals, most of the accidental cases with critical head injuries are rushed to the GMCH,” they say. Going by the official figures, more than 5,000 people have died in road accidents in the past five years in the state. In the erstwhile Doda district alone, as many as 352 persons have been killed in accidents in the past two years. This year, over 120 persons have lost their lives in road accidents till September 9. “My cousin received a serious head injury during a road accident in Akhnoor recently. He had to be shifted to Chandigarh for a surgery in the absence of facilities at the GMCH,” said Ishan Anand, a resident of Panjtirthi. Admitting the shortage of basic infrastructure, equipment and manpower (skilled and unskilled) in the neurosurgery unit of the GMCH, a surgeon said, “It becomes difficult to cope up with the rush of patients during any eventuality. We have to struggle for an operation theatre. Generally, we get access to the operation theatre once a week for carrying out the routine surgeries’’, he added. Dr Rajinder Singh, principal of the GMCH, said, “We have forwarded a proposal to the finance department for 200 new posts for at least six upcoming departments at the hospital, neurosurgery is one of them. Besides, a building is being constructed by the central government on the hospital premises”.
|
|
State's only cactus garden in bad shape
Jammu, October 13 Ghanshyam, field officer, department of landscaping, says the lock was put to bar the entry of students as many of them had destroyed some plants in the past. Moreover, the students can harm themselves, he adds. His excuses belie the truth as a botanical garden near the cactus garden is open to the students. If students do not harm any plants there, how can they harm cactus plants? Moreover, the students who are studying at the university level are mature enough to know that they can hurt themselves with cactus plants and need to take precautions. Moreover, the department can also put a board enlisting measures to that effect. Its closure also defeats the purpose of educating youngsters about the species of cactus. To this, Ghashayam says, "If a student or a visitor wants to see the garden, they can approach me, I will send a gardener to open the gate". Again, this may not serve the purpose as not many would know whom to approach to get the lock opened, and why would anybody waste so much of their time in going through the entire exercise to gain an entry into the garden. In order to create an outstanding landscape, the cactus garden was created over 13 kannal in 80's, with 800 plants of 50 species. Today, it has far less than half of the plants all due to the carelessness of the authorities. There are no signboards informing about the species of plants, their families and properties. Moreover, grass and weed has grown all over, hindering the growth of cactus plants. The water bodies in the garden have completely dried up. Ghashayam blames it on the fund crunch, saying the garden needs a lot of repair work, but no amount has ever been sanctioned for that. But, he does not deny the fact that he has got about 70 gardeners, three for the cactus garden, at his disposal, each of whom, according to him, get a monthly salary of Rs 12,000. Despite this, the garden continues to be in a mess. Since it has been closed for the visitors, the management too has become negligent toward its upkeep. If the gardeners do their duty and keep it clean and supervise it during the day, the garden can be kept open for the visitors. Ghashayam claims that it is the only cactus garden in the entire state, and still it does not have an expert. "In 80's, when it was created on the behest of the then vice-chancellor SC Dubey, I was sent to do a refresher course under Dr Sarkaria who successfully runs a cactus garden in Panchkula. So I created this garden on my own with limited knowledge. No other expert ever came to give us tips to develop it further." If the university cannot develop it further, it can certainly ensure its maintenance.
|
|
MC set to purchase four road-sweeping machines
Jammu, October 13 The proposal has been sent to the government. Each machine would cost the corporation Rs. 60 lakh. Besides improving sanitation, these machines would help reduce the number of safai workers. "These machines will help make the roads dust and garbage free, besides increasing efficiency", said Mubarak Singh, Commissioner, JMC. According to sources, one Hydro-Tech road sweeper purchased by the corporation in 1995 has been lying idle due to some technical fault. The Rs.10 lakh machine has not been used so far. Before sending this proposal to the government, the Commissioner had been to Surat to verify the functioning of these machines. After ensuring that these machines were functioning successfully there, he decided to buy these for Jammu. "These machines normally used at night suck garbage and dust from the roads", said the Commissioner. The JMC has decided to purchase 16 more vehicles that would cost the corporation around Rs. 1 crore. In view of approaching Diwali, the corporation is going all out to improve sanitation in the city by the optimal use of existing manpower and machinery. "More safai karamcharis will be deputed in the areas where the condition of sanitation is worse. Disinfectors and spray will be used to ensure sanitation there", said Mubarak Singh.
|
|
Diwali Festival
Jammu, October 13 Courtesy the business community of the area, the rock band is a big draw in the otherwise dull and drab evenings in the city. The Diwali Festival, which was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand on October 9, is proving a big crowd-puller during the evening hours. The entire market ranging from the Gole Market up to Last Morh has been decked up with lights and attractive billboards. One of the prominent rock bands of the city, Disha is giving a couple of performances in the event. “We have been performing rock numbers, especially hip hop numbers, as they prove to be crowd-pullers. We want to make crowd dance to the tunes of our band. The objective is to boost up the spirit of public,” said Pallavi Sharma, media secretary of Disha. “It’s a unique fest catching the attention of people as such events are not a common feature in cities like Jammu,” said, Hemant Gupta, a government employee, who was on shopping spree. “We had come for shopping and after having caught sight of the musical show we started enjoying it. It’s great to be here, besides shopping you can have a cheerful time,” he said. “This is for the second time that such an event is being organised in the Apsara Bazaar. When the organisers came with the idea we agreed upon it. It was for two reasons. First, to attract the customers from the old city across the river and secondly to boost the sale of our market,” said Ashwani Khullar, president of the Traders Association, Apsara Road. “Though the association is not sponsoring the event, there are businessmen who have funded the event,” he said, adding: “The market is generally known for electronic gadgets and ready-made garments. Both the commodities are much in demand in view of Diwali. So the event is turning to be a bonanza for the shoppers”. The event, Diwali Fair, has been organised by Chandar Bhaga, an advertising agency. During the fair, every evening would be marked by different events, including “mehandi raat”, during which free mehandi would be applied to the hands of visitors, dance performances for children and youth, musical concerts and last but not the least, fire crackers night on October 16 for which experts from Punjab have been invited. “Due to this event, the business community of the area earned a revenue of 2.5 crore last year. This year, they have high hopes and are expecting almost double the amount of revenue,” said Prince Khajuria, manager of the agency.
|
|
Bollywood ‘returns’ to Kashmir
Srinagar, October 13 The latest shoot to create a stir here is that of "Megha", a short film, and yesteryear's heartthrobs Manisha Koirala and Juhi Chawla along with Sanjay Suri, an actor of Kashmiri origin, who keeps returning to his roots for shooting of his films, are here these days. The movie has elicited positive curiosity among the touchy audience of Kashmir who accuse the Bollywood of depicting their land and people in violent and negative shades. "I hear the movie is about reunion of two Kashmiri Hindu and Muslim girls. That is good. People should know that it is a common Kashmiri who has suffered the most in the past 20 years," Abdur Rehman, a college student said as Megha's crew went through their paces on Jhelum's banks. Farooq Shah, director, Tourism Department, which has been making efforts to bring Bollywood back to what was once its natural haunt, said he hoped that more movie houses would shoot here, which, in turn, would be a big and inexpensive source of publicity for the region. Remember how Switzerland became hot among Indian tourists in the '90s, courtesy a series of Indian blockbusters shot there, especially those of Yash Raj banners. Officials said Bollywood producers and stars are still not very comfortable with shooting in the valley despite the unanimity that it remains as beautiful and scenic as any other place across the globe. "People here are very sensitive to what is being shot and abrupt law and order problems remain an issue. Producers are not bothered about money. Time and infrastructure are more important for them," an official said. But officials and people, especially those who depend upon tourism, are largely happy that their old ties with Hindi movies are getting revived again by and by. Rahul Dholakia had shot Lamhaa last year and stars like Sanjay Dutt and Bipasha Basu were here. Though Basu had left in a huff due to security concerns and the movie had to deal with political protests on unverified grounds. Dholakia was though thankful for shooting in the valley. Some other movies, including Anupam Kher-starrer Dastan, were shot earlier. |
|
Jammu Diary The image of the police suffered a serious blow recently. Be it the apparent case of custodial death of Rajnish at Ramunshibag Thana in Srinagar or alleged tampering with the weapon of offence in the Amandeep murder case. 'Police-bashing' has become a talk of the town. One can overhear anti-police remarks in almost every social gathering in parks, marketplaces and offices etc. Citing examples of both incidents, people have started drawing comparisons of the police with its bad portrayal in films. The police can surely bring to book the real culprits in both cases but it's going to take long for the force to wash the stains off its uniform. Lack of etiquettes
How lack of basic etiquettes can be embarrassing was exhibited during a lecture given by Prof Sangeeta Thapliyal from School of International Studies at JNU, New Delhi, at the Department of Strategic & Regional Studies, Jammu University, a few days ago. After she finished her lecture, a person asked two questions with a lengthy and boring elaboration. When Prof Thapliyal was replying to his queries, he got up and went out of the room to answer a phone call. The woman dignitary found it embarrassing, and went silent for a few minutes. Others too could be seen disturbed at the awkward behaviour of the man in question. Hot October
Even in October, the rising temperature is intolerable. What to talk of human beings; even animals can't bear the scorching sun. Stray animals can be seen roaming around in search of water to quench their thirst. On the other hand, people are continuing to waste water by leaving water taps on. They have yet to realise the importance of water. If this situation continues, the day is not far when their will be fights over precious water (See picture). Soft side of cops
Cops usually put up a stern face while on duty at a murder or accident site, But contrary to the "hardened" police image there were some female police constables who too were seen weeping behind a bus at the mysterious death of a youth in police custody. "We too are humans we could not tolerate the pain of the mother who is wailing at the untimely death of her young son," said a woman constable. These women cops, standing behind police vehicles, were seen trying to control and wipe their tears. Artificial
jewellery
As chain snatching has become a routine affair in towns of the Jammu region, women were hesitant to wear gold ornaments during Karva Chauth this year. Wearing gold ornaments during Karva Chauth is considered as a good omen but threats of snatching were also looming large. In such circumstances, women devised a new strategy. A large numbers of women this time wore artificial jewellery. A shopkeeper running a cosmetics shop disclosed that he had earned a huge profit by giving artificial ornaments to women this year. (Contributed by Ashutosh Sharma, Seema Sharma, Sunaina Kaul, Tejinder Singh Sodhi and
Dinesh Manhotra)
|
|
||
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Jammu, October 13
The image of the police suffered a serious blow recently. Be it the apparent case of custodial death of Rajnish at Ramunshibag Thana in Srinagar or alleged tampering with the weapon of offence in the Amandeep murder case.
'Police-bashing' has become a talk of the town. One can overhear anti-police remarks in almost every social gathering in parks, marketplaces and offices etc. Citing examples of both incidents, people have started drawing comparisons of the police with its bad portrayal in films.
