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Govt out to rescue child labourers Orphaned, they seethe with anger against ultras |
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Ex-SP empowers slum children Educating poor kids aim of state awardees Workers from outside swarm Ladakh, locals left in the lurch After Ranji match, JKCA eyes international tie Chopra Family Murder Case
Sufi festival concludes in Kashmir Bakers’ strike leaves Kashmiris without bread Jammu marathon gets good response Over 7,500 in line for Haj srinagar diary
Jammu University Campus Notes
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Govt out to rescue child labourers Jakhani (Udhampur), November 13 But now the situation has totally changed. Like other boys of his age group, he is studying in a school with a hope to have a bright future. Due to poor economic condition of his family, the boy had lost the hope to get an opportunity to study in his life. Vikram was “rescued” by the Labour Department after a Centrally sponsored scheme was kicked off in the district for the rehabilitation of child labourers. Although, according to the 2006 survey report, there are 987 minors who have been working as labourers in one or the other forms, only 430 have been rescued and rehabilitated and Vikram is among those fortunate minors. The department with the support of the district administration of Udhampur has so far opened 11 rehabilitation centres for the rescued child labourers. Udhampur is the first district in the state where such revolutionary step has been taken to save the childhood of poor children. This step has rekindled a ray of hope among those poor children who could not join school due to their poor economic condition. “It is just a beginning. We are planning to start vocational and job-oriented courses for those minor children who have been rescued from doing labour,” said Rampal Choudhary, project director of the National Child Labour Project (NCLP), Udhampur. The first school for the rescued child labourers was opened in October 2007 and today 11 such schools are functioning in the district. The process of identifying the child labourers was started way back in 2007 when a Central-sponsored scheme was launched in the district. During her visit to the state in August 2007, Jyoti Setiya, the then chairperson of the National Advisory Board on Child Labour, had chosen Udhampur for the NCLP programme due to the backwardness of the district. The Union government had sanctioned 16 such schools for child labourers in the erstwhile Udhampur district, but after the division of this region into districts, only 11 centres remained in the jurisdiction of the present Udhampur district. “We have rehabilitated only half of the identified child labourers,” admitted Choudhary, who added that the number of child labourers had increased in the district and there was a need to conduct a fresh survey. “We have given a proposal to conduct a fresh survey to collect the real figure of the total child labourers in the district,” he said. Surinder Sharma, Assistant Labourer Commissioner, Udhampur, who is monitoring these schools, informed that a monthly stipend of Rs 100 has been given to all students besides other facilities. He admitted that without opening of resident schools it was not possible to achieve the target. “Topography of Udhampur district is entirely different so there is a need to open resident schools in the remotest areas with boarding and lodging to the students,” he suggested. |
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Orphaned, they seethe with anger against ultras Jammu, November 13 Robbed off the tender parental care and protection that they needed during upbringing, 16 of the 99 inmates at Ved Mandir Bal Niketan and Ved Mandir Balika Niketan are victims of militancy. Militancy-hit orphans on the eve of Children’s Day, pour out their hearts over the loss of their parents. Some of them reveal their vengeance against militants while others yearn for a peaceful world. Qazil Mir and Amir Mir are brothers. Their father was killed by militants- a fact that keeps haunting them . Amir, who is in the |
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Ex-SP empowers slum children Jammu, November 13 Today, Sangeeta is fast learning to grapple with English alphabets, numbers and yes, bathing twice a day and brushing her teeth as well. All this at the residence of Onkar Nath Chandra in Mohinder Nagar, Talab Tilo. Just an idea to help slum children led the septuagenarian to start an evening school under the aegis of Damodhar Satri Udyog Sanstha being run under PAHL project for the uplift of such children. He managed to convince 13 children in a few days. Such was the zeal that his daughter-in-law, her friend who is a teacher in a private school and a government schoolteacher all joined him. Today, they have 85 students. “Now, the driveway in our house falls short,” the former cop said. His daughter-in-law, Sunita Chandra, walked with him each step for giving a new life to the poor children. Sunita’s close friend and a teacher in a local private school, Seema Bhan is also proving a good help. The government schoolteacher, Jasmeet Singh Madaan, has also started taking classes. The students come in the evening who otherwise used to work after attending school. This evening school has come as a boon for children whose parents are unable to afford their tuition fees. Pawan Kumar, a student of class III, used to clean cars in the evening to earn Rs 400 per month for his fee and uniform. The evening school not only gives him free tuition but also clothes, books and notebooks. Pawan Kumari, a domestic servant, is another girl who is studying in the evening school. Hailed as a
brilliant student, she greets visitors in English. Interestingly, Chandra’s granddaughter, a student of class VI of Presentation Convent School, has also been taking a keen interest in teaching the kids. She often makes students study till midnight, who have to take an examination the next day. And she warns the students, “Do ensure that you don’t bring bad name to me (your teacher)”. Even women from the slum areas come every Saturday to attend classes. Most of the women, who are
labourers, can now sign in Hindi and English as well”. These children are also inspired by another slum girl,
Arti, who, due to the efforts of her parents and philanthropists, is now studying in BA-I. “I am studying computers also. But my best education is to educate these children,” says
Arti, who comes to the former SP’s house every evening to teach children. “I want to give back what I have got. We did not even have enough to sleep on full stomach. But my father wanted me to study. And many persons helped us.” She wants to be a teacher. “My three younger sisters and brothers are all married. They could not study and resist marriage. I want to marry at the right age to a person who respects my wish to study more and who can give proper education to our children”. |
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Educating poor kids aim of state awardees Jammu, November 13 The teachers were given awards for putting in their best in the field of education. Chachi (37), who belongs to the Bakerwal Community, has done a commendable job in Kandiwara village by encouraging dropout Gujjar students to continue their education. “Being a Gujjar, I was aware about the inequality being faced by students of the community. I read their case and found out the ways to encourage them for continuing their studies,” said
Liyaquat, who is a sportsperson, a tourist guide and a good writer. “I had been an athletics champion and was the first registered tourist guide in my district. After the occurrence of militancy in the valley, I switched over to the teaching profession,” he said. Chachi has done BA and B.Ed from Gujjar hostel, Srinagar. On September 7, 1997, he was appointed as a teacher in Government Middle School, Kandiwara. He worked there for seven years and improved the infrastructure of the school. After that he was posted in Girls High School,
Baramullah, where he had done a remarkable job by brining out 100 per cent board results in 2006. He had also introduced the mid-day meal scheme in Baramullah school and succeeded in enhancing the enrollment of girl students. Chachi had got a lot of appreciation from people for his drama called “Jago” based on the theme of inequality and injustice being tolerated by poor children. “In this drama, I wrote about how privileged class of the society dominates the children of underprivileged class by using them for domestic purpose. However, they send their own children to foreign countries to pursue the best and higher education”. In 2008, Liyaquat again did a commendable job by capturing a wild bear in Sagam village, putting his own life to risk. Aruna Sharma, another first prize winner, who is senior lecturer in Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Kathua, had also done a notable job by providing books to poor students in her school and by bearing their transport charges. She had done PG in human rights and diploma in guidance and counselling and also in administration and planning. In 1986, she was appointed as a teacher in a high school at Marheen, a boarder village of Kathua district. “I dedicate this award to my mother, who is no more. She always inspired me to do good for society by helping the poor,” she said. Mohammad Hafiz Sheikh, the second prize winner, is a teacher in Government High School, Hanch (Doda). He was instrumental in enhancing the enrollment of girl student’s in the school. Sheikh had done PG in Arabic and M.Ed from the University of Jammu. He is also a good writer and has composed many poems. “One of my poems based on Hindu-Muslim brotherhood and unity is being recited during the morning prayer in almost all schools in Doda”, said Sheikh. The third prize winner, Mushtaq Ahmad Parray, who is a teacher in SP Higher Secondary School, Srinagar, was given the award for bringing out above 95 per cent board result. 44 selected for district awards
Besides the state awards, 44 teachers were selected for district awards.
Each teacher was given a cash prize of Rs 25,000 each. These are:
Amjad Ali, Kanchan Sharma, Asad Ullah Bhat, Raj Rani, Mohinder Pal,
Meena Salaria, Bansi Lal Bhagat, Shabnam Shabir, Vachaspati Shastri,
Reeta Sharma, Santosh Kumar Kohli, Anuradha, Pardeep Sharma, Shakti Bala,
Nissar Ahmed, Asha Bhagat, Gajan Singh, Gulshana Dutta, Mohammad Hussain
Naseem, Kusum Kumari, Mohammad Abbas Ahangar, Mehbooba Akhtar, Gulshan
Hassam Malla, Masooda Begum, Tashim Motum, Tsewang Dolma, Javed Ahmed
Malik, Farzana Batool, Mohammad Yousuf Bhatt, Irshat Parvez, Abdul
Rashid Kambay, Gulshan Akhtar, Syed Akhtar Hussain, Mubina Banoo, Ajaz
Ahmed Khan, Dilshada Parveen, Farooq Ahmed, Farida Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed
Ahanger, Dil Afroza Andrabi, Fayaz Ahmed Wani, Fameed Shah, Zahoor
Sheikh, and Sabia Drabu. |
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Workers from outside swarm Ladakh, locals left in the lurch Leh, November 13 Contractors bring plane-loads of these labourers from different parts of the country and they are both skilled and unskilled. Construction workers, plumbers, electricians, painters etc. jostle with chefs, accountants and hotel managers for seasonal employment. They last six to eight months before flying back at the onset of the winter. Why are such skills not developed in local youth ? Unemployment is severe in Ladakh and the number of educated unemployed is large. When the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council ( LAHDC) advertised 300 posts of orderlies in government departments, as many as 6,000 people applied. The recruitment ran into a wall when those who were not selected turned violent, stormed the streets at Leh and demonstrated at the Polo Ground. Police resorted to caning to disperse the angry youth, who complained of unfair recruitment procedures and corruption.An unemployed graduate, Sonam Gailson, is frustrated at the delay in sorting out the issue. “ LAHDC is yet to draw lessons from the February fiasco,” lamented Gailson bitterly. Several demonstrating youth were arrested and a petition challenging the recruitment remains pending before the High Court in Jammu. Claims Dorejy Wangchuk, president of All Ladakh Unemployed Youth Association (ALUYA), “ While every year around 500 men and women graduate out of colleges, only 20 or 25 of them get absorbed in government departments”. The Ladakhi educated youth, he admits, are enamoured of government jobs, largely because of the security and perks they provide. Skarma Tokdan defends the trend and says it is not easy for Ladakhi youth to venture out on their own. He should know because he had launched a small enterprise in the horticulture sector. Officials at the District Industries Centre ( DIC), he says, are rude and not very helpful and there is little guidance, counselling or practical advice that young entrepreneurs receive from them. Four unemployed youth known to him, claims Tokdan, have been running from pillar to post for the past two years for a plot of land so that they can set up an enterprise to promote local produce. But although the Deputy Commissioner has written to the DIC to allot the plot, the Centre claims to have no land available. Tokdan added, “ On November 4 we called on the Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC, Tsering Dorjey, and were shocked to learn that four outsiders were allotted plots in the same industrial estate.” Wangchuk also went on to allege , “ A group of NGOs had surveyed job opportunities in Ladakh under the project, ‘Enterprising Ladakh’, and had identified eleven business activities related to agro-industry and tourism; but LAHDC has failed to follow up and adopt suitable policies”. The project, “ Enterprising Ladakh” was funded by the European Commission with technical support of Tata Institute of Social Sciences ( TISS), Druk Prema Karpo Educational Society, Drukpa Trust and SECMOL. Curiously, LAHDC had agreed in principle to set up a ‘Ladakh Enterprise Support Agency’ way back in 2006 at a meeting in Srinagar. The agency was to be set up with the assistance of the Entreprenurship Development Institute, Srinagar. But it is yet to see the light of day. ALUYA had launched a restaurant , “ Ladakhi Kitchen” to serve local cuisine to tourists. It was operated successfully |
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After Ranji match, JKCA eyes international tie Srinagar, November 13 Hosting a first-class match after five years but deprived of an international match for over 26 years, the stadium still looks under-prepared. However, those conversant with the progress the ground has made in a year or so to be ready for a first-class match, say the idea of an international match in Srinagar is no longer just a pipedream. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is playing a lead role in doing up the stadium and with a cooperative government at the helm in the state, the work will only speed up. Union Cabinet minister Farooq Abdullah is the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association while his party is running the government in the state. Khan says they plan to have indoor facilities, swimming pool and gym ready from a year of the start of the work, likely in March, 2010. The Circuit House, which is located in the same premises as the stadium, would also be done up to the international standards so that international players could be put up there. And another important exercise would be to refurbish the seating facilities for spectators that look to be in a complete mess now. The stadium is lined with enormous chinar trees and Khan says none of them would be touched while they carry out the renovation. “Farooq sahib had a long meeting with office bearers in this regard. I am sure that we can stake our claim for hosting an international match sometime in 2011 once all works are completed,” he says. To be fair to J&K Cricket Academy officials, hosting an international match in Srinagar would be as much a political decision as sporting because of some unsavoury incidents in the past. Separatist elements used the India versus West Indies match in 1983 to express their dislike of Indian sovereignty in Kashmir and their numbers and morale have only gone up since then. But it is so far so good for the academy. BCCI chief curator Daljit Singh, who is credited for lively Mohali pitch — arguably the best 22-yard patch in India - has played an active role in making the pitch. “We have still a long way to go. But we do have covered a lot of ground,” Khan says. |
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Victim’s sons reject SIT challan Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, November 13 It may be recalled here that during the intervening night of September 18 and 19 in 2006 unidentified assailants had bludgeoned to death Raju Chopra, his wife Madhu Chopra, college-going daughter Saloni Chopra, a domestic help Sonu and a driver Jagan Nath at their residence in posh Trikuta Nagar locality. After three years of investigations on the direction of the state High Court, the SIT had presented the charge sheet in the Court of Excise Magistrate. The SIT had presented the charge sheet against eight accused namely Mahesh, Rushi, Vicky, Nanju, Bhawani Singh, Sikander, Narinder and Dalip, all residents of Guna district in Madhya Pradesh. However, yet again the SIT submitted that the two accused, including the kingpin Sangram Singh, were still absconding and arrest warrants had been issued against them. “There is nothing new in the challan presented before the local court,” Rohit Chopra, younger among two sons of the cement tycoon said. “Furthermore, we are not following the SIT because we want a CBI probe so that the truth could be unveiled,” he added. However, he said they (Rohit and his elder brother Puneet) would be satisfied if the SIT investigated the case on the right track. Coming out with the same old theory would serve no purpose, felt Rohit, who said they would try to meet Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. We tried to meet him in the past and would try again, he added. Puneet Chopra, it may be stated here, had recently joined the National Conference but Rohit had claimed that his elder brother had no political ambitions and joined the party because he believed in its ideology. The SIT in its charge sheet had recorded the statements of 68 witnesses, out of which one of the accused, Vicky, son of Himmat Singh, was made as approver in the case. The Excise Magistrate has now committed the charge sheet to the Sessions Court with a direction to the SIT to produce the accused. Sources said, the then SHO Trikuta Nagar Mohammed Rafiq Manhas was really close to crack the case when in an abrupt development axe fell upon him in the form of suspension. Two sons of the Chopra family apparently survived the brutal and planned attack because they had been sent to Australia to pursue their business management studies. Though the police claimed that the Chopra family was eliminated by members of the Pardhi Tribe from Guna district, the surviving sons, who smell a deep-rooted conspiracy behind the murder, continue to discard the police theory. It may be recalled here that the then coalition government (PDP-Cong) headed by Ghulam Nabi Azad had referred the high-profile case to the CBI vide a notification dated September 25, 2006. However, it had been told officially that the CBI, in stark contrast to the Shopian twin rape and murder case, refused to take up the investigations citing it a crime of local nature. The CBI had been asked by the Omar government to investigate the Shopian incident that brought the Kashmir Valley on a boil after separatists and the PDP allegedly fuelled the fire.
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Sufi festival concludes in Kashmir Srinagar, November 13 Those remembered included Hazrat Bulbul Shah, Hazrat Amir Kabir, Hazrat Maqdoom Sahib, Peer Dastgeer Sahib, and Khawaja Naqshband Sahib in whose reverence special shahi groups from Dargah Sharif of Ajmer Sharif had arrived in Srinagar. The festival was inaugurated by Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on Friday last. Qaiser Nazimi and Mir Muneer enthralled the audience through Manqabats and Sufi Kalam of Amir Khusroo on the inaugural at the SKICC. The shahi qawwals of Khawaja Gareeb Nawaz Dargah Amjeer Sharif headed by Amjad Hussain Asrar and Aslam Hussain Asrar created emotional atmosphere when they recited Sufi qawwali praising Prophet Mohammad. All major towns of the Valley were covered in the festival in which scholars, intellectuals, writers and personalities from different shades of life actively participated. Imams of various shrines and mosques, including Mufti-Azam (grand Mufti of the state) Mufti Mohammad Bashiruddin, joined the festival. |
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Bakers’ strike leaves Kashmiris without bread Srinagar, November 13 Some of the bakers in Kashmir have increased the price as per their discretion whereas others have either shut their "tandoors" or are selling the "roti" at the original price. Although, negotiations are going on between officials of the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department and bakers, there has been no breakthrough so far. "Bakers in our area who have been on strike for the past couple of days have increased the price without approval from the administration either by 50 per cent or 100 per cent of the original price of Rs. 2 per roti). Now, they sell it either for Rs. 3 or Rs. 4 or even Rs. 5 per 'roti'. Strikes have become a routine affair in the valley," says Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Bohri Kadal. Traditional bakers locally known as "Kaandur" bake bread in large oven. He uses wood to warm the oven that prepares 20-30 rotis simultaneously. The baker is assisted by his family members and at some places he hires some workers for preparing the bread. Kashmiri "roti" is prepared twice a day. In the first turn (early morning), Kashmiri "lawasa" and "kandar choet" are prepared. In the second shift, "chochworu" and "kulcha" are prepared. Bilal Ahmad, a labourer earning Rs 150 per day, says "I purchase Kashmiri rotis for Rs 40 for my five-member family that too if a member eats only one roti each in the morning and the afternoon." Expressing anguish and surprise over a 50 per cent increase in the "roti" price in one go, Sakina Bano, a housewife, complained:"Earlier, we purchased 10 rotis for Rs 20, now I got just eight rotis for Rs 30." People have criticised the government, saying that the authorities should have come out with a rate list to keep the consumer informed. A group of local bakery manufacturers said:"The sharp price hike in ingredients had become a major cause of concern for them." Despite repeated attempts neither the CAPD Director nor the PRO of the department could be contacted for their comments on the issue. However, Aamir Ali, OSD to Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, warned the bakers of dire consequences if they sold the "rotis" for more than Rs 2. |
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Jammu marathon gets good response Jammu, November 13 The marathon is being organised in a special manner and people have also started gearing up for it. As of now, about 3,000 people have registered themselves for participation. For past couple of days, a number of people of all ages were witnessed exercising in the grounds for their better participation in the event. The Marathon will start at 7 am from Apsara Road, Gandhi Nagar and will cover Green Belt Park, Bahu Plaza, Panama Chowk, Bahu Fort Bridge, Gujjar Nagar, DC office, Residence Road, Christian Colony to culminate at the Apsara Road. Minister for Revenue and Relief Raman Bhalla will flag off the marathon while Mayor Kavinder Gupta will give away awards to winners. |
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Over 7,500 in line for Haj Srinagar, November 13 The government had set up the first state-of-the-art Haj House at Bemina here in 2007 for the stay of pilgrims ahead of the beginning of the pilgrimage. It was inaugurated by former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in November 2007. The multi-crore Haj project was divided in two phases. Being a model piece, it is considered one of the best complexes in the country equipped with various facilities. Fifty kanal of land was procured from the Srinagar Development Authority to construct the complex. The Haj House is situated a few km away from the airport. Hajis wear “ahram” at the Haj House where heating arrangement is also available. Besides various facilities, the House has an ample space to accommodate as many as 230 pilgrims at a time with separate facilities for both male and female pilgrims. The House here witnessed a huge rush of pilgrims over the past few weeks. Relatives and friends come to bid farewell to their dear ones, as they leave for the pilgrimage. The House has arrangements for absolutions, foreign exchange, immigration and other passenger amenities. “All facilities like immigration, customs, tickets and foreign exchange are made available by us, though some formalities of immigration are to be completed at the airport,” said Dr Abdul Salaam, executive officer, State Haj Committee, adding, “They only have to manage the passport”. He said 7,658 pilgrims were performing Haj this year. Out of these, three were infants. The Hajis left in 38 flights, with two flights operating per day since October 20 to November 7. The second flight on November 7 got postponed as passports of most of the Hajis were not available. However, they got them later and the flight was operated on November 12 at 1 pm. However, 67 Hajis would be going in connected flights on November 14. The executive officer said passports of two Hajis were pending, but they were expected soon. Four Hajis couldn’t proceed to the pilgrimage as their passports arrived late and by then visa facility had been closed. Dr Salaam said about 4,000 passports were issued this year for Hajis. As passport is an important criteria for performing the Haj now, special concession was offered by the Centre this time and they provided passports to Hajis for eight months. After biding farewell to his parents, Saquib Ahmad said: “Overall facilities at the Haj House are good. The government shall increase quota for Hajis. Private services are also available, but they are costly”. He said the House had been doing fairly well to accommodate needs and requirements of the pilgrims. “There may be certain lacunae but good work, too, needs to be appreciated”. His cousin, Firdous Ahmad, accompanying him said: “Pilgrims coming from the far-off areas have to face several problems. With the setting up of the Haj House complex at Jammu most of the problems will be sorted out”. |
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Guess papers on sale
The annual examinations being conducted by the University of Kashmir and the State Board of School Education (BOSE) started in the Kashmir valley last month. These examinations from Class X and XII being conducted by BOSE and three-year bachelor degree exams by the University of Kashmir would continue up to early January next year. While these examinations have brought the students under a tremendous workload, somebody is sure to benefit out of it. An old man goes on selling copies of “guess papers” in one of the main markets in the heart of Srinagar. When approached he said: “I have been here for the past about one week with these guess papers”. Otherwise he sells other pamphlets or booklets or sometimes the biodegradable carriage bags much in demand after the ban on polythene. The sale of guess papers might have relieved many students of the trouble of approaching the respective subject experts or their teachers to get these papers. Traffic sense! What is that?
The overhead bridge across MA Road near Women’s College was supposed to reduce pedestrian traffic on the busy road. It is not that it has not delivered the goods. Girl students in their hundreds take to the stairs and cross the road by bridge as they disgorge out of their college everyday. But the common man doesn’t seem to have the same regard for the bridge and its purpose. Traffic is disrupted frequently as pedestrians run across the road as a walk across the bridge takes more time. A traffic cop deployed there says people have no community sense, a common nuisance in all Indian cities, and react angrily if told to cross the road via bridge. (See picture) Frequent strikes
Going on an indefinite strike has become a trend in Kashmir. Be it SRTC employees, anganwadi workers, junior doctors and now bakers. Instead of solving issues at the appropriate time, they are dragged on till the situation turns hostile and the common masses suffer. With the result, the government is pressured into conceding their demands. The government fails to provide a mechanism wherein such things would be sorted out without sloganeering or shutting units, making people suffer. The government either intentionally provides them with an opportunity or it fails to locate the lacunae at the preliminary stage. Finally, the government ends up doing things as per the wishes of protesters, sending out a message for others to follow. This is really unfortunate that we don’t value time.
(Contributed by Ehsan Fazili, Kumar Rakesh and Afsana Rashid)
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Varsity lawns cry for attention Tribune News Service
Stench everywhere
Urine stench permeates the campus departments alike. Enter any department and one has to cover his nose to escape the pungent smell. Badly maintained toilets, irresponsible staff, lax supervision seem to be the obvious reasons. But the designs of buildings, which have poor ventilation, and no sunlight add to the smell. At a time when the university has to compete with new central universities, cleanliness and energy-saving architecture should be the top priorities. Debate competition
The International Resource Cell shall organise the inter-college and departmental debate competition on cooperative movement on November 18 in Dhanwantri Library at 11 am. Earlier, the debate was scheduled on November 11. Gossip corner!
University students often pride themselves in discussing social changes. The young revolutionaries take each discussion and chat seriously as if that was the ultimate and end-all way of bringing in the change. Yet, the main restaurant on the campus boldly names itself ‘gossip corner’. Always filled to the brim, youngsters’ chat enlivens the place. Though the youngsters protest their chats are serious when teachers or parents tell them not to waste time on useless chatting or gossiping, they happily seem to agree this is the place to gossip. Fashion fundas
Talking about good looks, can we ignore fashion in the campus? Tight-fit jeans, long heels and hair done nicely in a plait, rather long plait seems to be the latest fashion funda on the campus. One can see damsels, sashaying down the corridors, footpaths and roads comfortably in this attire. Gone are the days when Jammu girls were seen mostly in suits and salwars. The boys though lag behind. You rarely find someone with well-jelled spiked hair. Shooting reminder
The administrative block still carries a gruesome reminder of the shootout incident that took place in March this year. Holes in a glass pane caused by bullets can still be seen. The authorities, it is learnt, had vowed that the glass panes would be replaced only when the accused was nabbed. Though the accused, Amandeep Singh, who shot bullets in the block in March this year, was later shot dead by his friend-turned-foe in August, the shattered panes have remained the same. The case went on to become far more serious when four police officers, including a former Senior Superintendent of Police, were held for tampering with evidences. (See picture) Sangharsh lecture series
Sangharsh, a students’ body, this week organised second lecture under the “Sangharsh Lecture Series” titled “Effect of Recession on Indian Economy” recently. Prof Deepinkar Sen Gupta from the Department of Economics deliberated upon all aspects of the state of the world economy. He highlighted the effect of recession on the Indian economy keeping in view the parameters that have failed to insulate the Indian economy and stressed on the need for decoupling with a focus on agriculture, which is the main state of the Indian economic infrastructure. In order to prevent Indian economy from getting derailed, he urged the policy-makers to focus on domestic services and the human capital, less than 40 per cent of the Indian economic agriculture driven which otherwise should have been 60 per cent. The proceedings of the programme were carried out by Mahesh Kaul, organising secretary, Sangarsh, while Suresh Kumar, general secretary of the movement, delivered the vote of thanks. |
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Jammu, November 13
ammu, November 13
Srinagar, November 13
Srinagar, November 13
Srinagar, November 13
The annual examinations being conducted by the University of Kashmir and the State Board of School Education (BOSE) started in the Kashmir valley last month.
These examinations from Class X and XII being conducted by BOSE and three-year bachelor degree exams by the University of Kashmir would continue up to early January next year.
Liyaquat Ali Chachi of Kandiwara village, Anantnag district, and Aruna Sharma of Kathua district have been adjudged as first State Award winners. They were given a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh each. The second award winner is Mohammad Hafiz Sheikh of Doda district. He was given a cash prize of Rs 75,000 whereas the third winner is Mushtaq Ahmad Parray of Srinagar, who was also given a cash amount of Rs 75,000.
A university campus normally boasts of its beautiful landscape, designer flowerbeds and clean and well-mowed lawns, but this campus takes a beating on all these aspects. Poorly maintained grounds and lawns give an ugly background to the otherwise vibrant campus dotted with colourfully dressed youngsters. One wonders if there is a shortage of gardeners or initiative among the staff to maintain the campus.