Jammu, November 15
After a marathon seven-hour-long round of talks with representatives of the state government, agitating employees of the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) today decided to defer the proposed ‘unusual protest’.

A high-level meeting between SRTC Union leaders and the government was held today. Though the meeting remained inconclusive, both sides termed the meeting as a positive step forward and expressed hope for an early resolution of the issue. The union said the ongoing agitation would continue till the government took a final decision on their demands.

The meeting held between the government and the SRTC Workers Union under the leadership of chairman of JKSRTC Workers Union Shakeel Ahmed Kuchay and president Ashok Mehra where as adviser of the Chief Minister Davinder Rana and Finance Secretary and Transport Secretary represented the government.

Talking to The Tribune, Shakeel Ahmed Kuchay said the meeting was held in a conducive atmosphere wherein the union leaders presented their demands in length. He said the government representatives were serious on every issue and the union was hopeful for the resolution of all issues. “They listened to us calmly and we are hopeful about the early solution of all issues,” he said.

SRTC Workers Union chairman said: “We are hopeful and soon you would hear announcement from the government side.”

Senior officials of the Transport Department said on the instructions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, a road map was being prepared by a team of top bureaucrats for the overhauling of the derailed and loss-making Transport Body and convert it into a viable profit making unit. The Chief Minister after coming from London discussed the issue with the Finance Minister and decided to resolve the issue.

Union leaders said they were hopeful that the government would soon come out with a road map to resolve the issue. “As the government has shown positive response, we have deferred our unusual protest of Tuesday and would wait for the response from the government’s side. Though no decision was taken, we are hopeful for an early solution,” Kuchay said. The government is moving on the positive note and willing to give some more relaxation to the agitating workers this time.

Jammu, November 15
In its efforts to strengthen its base in the Jammu region, the PDP today promised to decentralise power at regions and sub-regions to remove the discrimination. The PDP also termed demand of ‘azadi’ being raised by some separatist groups of Kashmir as “unrealistic”.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Jammu unit of the party to educate the people about self-rule document, former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beg today said those advocating for independence of Kashmir or demanding its merger with Pakistan should have to realise that these demands were “unrealistic”.“Instead of raking up such impractical demands, such groups should have to realise the ground situation,” Beg said and asserted that the self-rule proposal of the PDP was the only practical and realistic solution of the Kashmir issue.

He said the self-rule document was prepared after incorporating wishes and aspirations of different sections, and this was the only solution which would address both external and internal dimensions of the Kashmir issue.

He said the self-rule document suggested empowerment of all regions and sub-regions for equal development. It aimed at creating the state as a bridge between

India and Pakistan and both countries would offer tariff reductions and develop this belt as Free-Trade Zone. Development of this area as Free-Trade Zone would attract maximum foreign direct investment, he suggested while elaborating the self-rule document. He made a reference towards the resolution of SAARC to make South Asia as Trade-Free Zone. “On experiment basis let us start this process from this region”, he said.

“Opening of some points on the LoC for trade is a good beginning but a lot more needed to be done,” he said and emphasised on opening of all traditional routes on border.

Srinagar, November 15
The Army has rescued 272 civilians, stranded near the Zojila Pass on the Leh-Srinagar highway for the last three days due to sudden and heavy snowfall in the region.

Official sources said the Drass Brigade swung into action yesterday after its senior officers came to know about the stranded civilians and vehicles.The civil administration with its limited manpower and resources was finding it difficult to rescue them.

The Army said 150-odd vehicles were also brought out of the snow-covered highway at Gumri, just short of Zozila, the pass which connects the regions of Ladakh and Kashmir. The vehicles had been stranded for over three days due to the heavy snowfall and the bad condition of the road between Gumri and Zozila.

“A convoy of military vehicles from Drass was rushed to the spot where a field langar was established and civilians were provided tea and food as they had eaten nothing for long. Truckers complaining of cold were given medical help and kerosene and blankets for the night”, an Army spokesperson said.

To ensure a safe path, the army sent ahead a rescue team comprising one doctor, two nursing assistants, two ambulances,a resuce party carrying food , three heavy recovery vehicles, three dozers, one snow-cutter and one mobile VSAT communication terminal to Matayin and Zojila. Army mechanics were also sent for the help of civilian truckers. The trucks were allowed to pass in groups of eight and a strict vigil was kept to ensure their safety.

The army also provided recovery vehicles to tow away eight heavy vehicles that were blocking the highway.

Jammu, November 15
As many as 338 students will get their degrees, including three degrees for Doctor of Philosophy in the second convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) to be held 
here tomorrow.

On the occasion, Narayan Murthy of Infosys Technologies will be the chief guest and the ceremony will be presided over by Governor of J&K and Chancellor of the university NN Vohra. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will be the guest of honour, said NK Bansal, Vice-Chancellor, SMVDU.

In a short time, the university has set records in the education field and is presently offering six undergraduate and nine postgraduate programmes.

Apart from it, the examination pattern of the university is based on continuous evaluation, which has been drawn from the IITs, emphasising on assignments and problem solving.

The university has also laid great emphasis on interactive programmes as College of Management has organised eight national-level seminars.

Students of SMVDU are also teaching the children of construction workers on the campus under the programme VIKALP, an alternative path of enlightenment.

Jammu, November 15
Finally, after nine years the panchayat elections are on the cards thereby rekindling hopes of effective governance at the grass-root level. If the minister concerned is to be believed they would be held early next year.

Meetings are going on and a detailed memo would be put forth before the state cabinet shortly, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ali Mohammed Sagar told The Tribune.

Though he refused to give any deadline, yet sounded confident of holding the elections early next year. “In the beginning of the next year we are hopeful of holding the elections to the Panchayats,” he said.

When reminded that the state had been constantly losing central funds for not holding the elections to nearly 5,000 panchayats in the state from the past nine years, he said the government was on the job and the same would be held as soon as possible.

The basic aim was to decentralise power at the grass-root level, including women empowerment, because 76 per cent of our population lives in rural areas, he said, adding elections to civic bodies would also be held on time.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand had already issued instructions to hold elections to the local bodies in time, he added.

It may be stated here that in December 2008, elections to the state legislative assembly were held followed by Rajya Sabha elections, Upper House polls and then the Lok Sabha polls early this year.

However, on April 14 this year Sagar had told The Tribune that if things materialised elections to the panchayats could be held in October-November this year. This fiscal year the state failed to get central funds for rural development because it has not held the panchayat elections.

Official sources said, this fiscal over Rs 2 billion had been sought by the Rural Development Department but the Union government had spurned the request on the grounds that the state government had failed to hold the elections directly associated with the rural populace. The state has 4,587 panchayats out of which elections were held to nearly 1,900 in 2000.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on his visit to the Kashmir valley on October 28 this year had advised the state government to hold the elections to the local bodies at the earliest so as to ensure peoples participation in the process of development.

RS Pura, November 15
This is sowing season for wheat, but farmers in the region are sitting idle in their fields, waiting for seeds, thanks to the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities concerned.

Debt-ridden farmers here are a worried lot as there is an acute shortage of wheat seeds due to which sowing of crop has been delayed. Though the state government has authorised some government agencies to supply seeds to the farmers on prescribed rates, they are waiting for seeds.

A number of farmers waiting at the Kullian seed-sale centre said: “We have been visiting the sale centres almost everyday and are told that there has been nominal supply from the headquarters.”

The annoyed farmers said if they were not supplied the seeds on time, quantity and quality of their produce would be badly affected.

“The seeds are available in the black market. One can get seeds easily by paying high prices. It seems the government is not taking their problem seriously,” Puran Chand of Keer village said.

Another farmer of Dhinda village Anokh Singh said: “Earlier his paddy had been destroyed due to rains and winds. Now he has to wait to get seeds,” adding that he needs four bags of seeds, but the officials had given him only one bag, giving reason of shortage.

Interestingly, recently the Director Agriculture suspended a store-keeper for allegedly selling 27 quintals of subsidised wheat seeds to a flour mill at Bagha Mar village on September 29 and three persons were arrested by the police during the raid.

However, repeated attempts to contact, director, Agriculture Department, Vinod Bala turned futile.

Jammu, November 15
Expressing its grave concerns over threats to the Dogra culture, identity and heritage, the Dogra Sadar Sabha has decided to launch a massive campaign to restore and preserve the Dogra identity which is at the brink of extinction.

As the first step to preserve the Dogra identity, the sabha today announced to revive the old practice of putting turban on all ceremonial occasions and to improve the standard of tying the Dogra Turban. The Dogra Sadar Sabha has decided to hold a competition of tying the ‘Dogra Turban’ on January 3, 2010, at Dogra Sadar Sabha Bhawan. The last date for filling entries for the turban tying contest is December 26.

Former minister and president of the Sabha Gulchain Singh Charak while addressing a press conference today announced this programme. He further asked the government for including more historical buildings of Dogra rulers as protected monuments.

While appreciating decision of the authorities for including five more historical spots namely - Laddan Fort (Chenani), Jaganoo Fort (Udhampur), Mansar Haveli (Samba), Seikh Ibrahim Tomb (Aafakadal) and Miniature Tomb (Buchpora) in the list of protected monuments of the state, Charak pointed out that a lot more needed to be done as there were many other historical buildings which needed to be preserved to protect Dogra identity.

He said the sabha had organised its central working committee meeting with regard to the preservation of culture and heritage of Dogras. The working committee appreciated the efforts of the government for organising the “Jammu Festival” during 2007 and 2008 in a befitting manner.

Charak, however, regretted over not organising the festival in 2009. “We appeal to the Chief Minister to call the meeting of all departments concerned and social and religious organisations of this province for starting the preparation for the ensuing festival well in time”.

Jammu, November 15
The Jammu and Kashmir Shiromani Akali Dal on behalf of the Sikh community of the state today held a convention in which senior leaders of the ruling alliance, including PCC president Saifuddin Soz, participated.

Sikhs put forth their demands in front of the government and sought assurances to redress them. They demanded granting of minority status to the community in the state.

“Sikhs feel isolated and neglected and are lagging behind economically, socially and politically. They have their own distinct culture and identity and we don’t have an elected representative to voice our demands. We demand reservation for three legislative seats for Sikhs for election to the legislative assembly,” read a memorandum submitted by the Sikhs.

It further said an educated Sikh leader with unblemished record and clean history should be inducted in the Cabinet that could specially help mitigating the problems being faced by the 
Sikh community.

The Sikhs also demanded reservation in government jobs and in admission to professional institutes, besides giving due importance to Punjabi language and asked for its introduction in primary, middle and secondary level in educational institutes.

The Sikhs also demanded that the community members living in Kashmir should be given incentives as is being given to Kashmiri Pandits to avoid their migration from the valley and they should be provided foolproof security.

They also demanded that displaced persons of 1947 from the PoK also need to be fully compensated once for all on lines similar to one treated by the central and state government for doling out material and monetary compensation to Kashmiri Pandits during and after 1989.

Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla said the coalition government was fully aware of the problems of Sikh refugees and efforts were on to mitigate them in a phased manner. He said all Deputy Commissioners had been asked to prepare a list of displaced families of 1947, 1965 and 1971 refugees under their respective jurisdictions so that compensation could be disbursed among them at the earliest.

Bhalla clarified that the Prime Minister’s package of Rs 1618.40 crore was not only for Kashmiri migrants but it was for all those displaced families, who migrated from Kashmir valley.

Jammu, November 15
As part of its weekly show, the Sunday theatre, Natrang, today staged a comedy, ‘Hamsafar’, written by Kannad Rishi Bhatnagar and directed by Balwant Thakur, here. The play makes a caricature of unwanted guests, particularly in metros, where people hardly have any space and resources to live comfortably. The action begins with the entry of Sharma,

along with his family of nine, into Verma’s house.

Incidentally, Verma had met Sharma once at Mathura railway station and the two had exchanged cards. As a formality, Verma had said that if Sharma happened to be in Delhi, he could drop in at his place.

Taking full advantage of the offer, Sharma along with his family and other relations, lands at Verma’s place in Delhi with the intention to stay for over a month.

The hosts lose patience while attending to the guests.They make many attempts to force them out, but in vain.

Finally, Mrs Verma plays a trick and advises the guests to deposit their cash with her as due to the growing incidents of thefts in Delhi, they might lose their hard-earned money.

This way they get the entire cash.When the Sharma family asks for its money,Verma hands over a balance- sheet showing the money spent on their hospitality.

The Sharma family wants its money back, but in vein.The play ends with a lesson that one should never be an unwanted guest and a burden on others. 

Jammu, November 15
Activists of the Jammu West Assembly Movement (JWAM) today held demonstrations against rising prices of essential commodities, black-marketing, hoarding and adulteration here.

Led by JWAM president Sunil Dimple, the activists shouted slogans against the state government and asked it to control spiraling prices of essential commodities, besides ensuring basic amenities to the people.

Addressing the activists, Dimple asked the coalition government to take corrective measures so as to provide succour to the common man. He also asked the government to import essential commodities like cereals, pulses, edible oils and sugar and at the same time initiate stern action against disgruntled elements indulging in black-marketing, hoarding and adulteration.

He regretted that the state government and the union government were least bothered about the common man, who had become a victim of official apathy in the wake of escalating prices.

”The government has also become a mute spectator to the menace of hoarding, black-marketing and adulteration”, he said, adding that the government should launch a crackdown on such disgruntled elements, who continued to resort to unethical practices.

He also drew attention of the government towards chaotic traffic in the city.

Jammu, November 15
Two Vaishno Devi pilgrims, including a boy, were killed and three others injured in a head-on collision between a car and bus at Banad village, near Chappar Morh, on the Jammu-Kathua National Highway last evening.

The official reports said, the car on its way to Pathankot from Katra collided with a bus at Banad village in Hiranagar tehsil, adding all five occupants, including driver, were seriously injured in the collision.

They said, after paying obeisance at the holy cave shrine at Katra, five members of a family were on their way to Punjab when the incident took place.

All victims were rushed to Government Medical College, here, where two of them succumbed to their injuries, they added.

Those who died were later identified as Navadhhiya Khurana, son of Rajeev Khurana, resident of Rajeev Garden in Delhi and Dharam Kannan, son of Surat Kannan, a native of Bihar. Police said the bus was seized and its driver had been arrested.

In another road mishap, a rashly driven bus, on way to Udhampur from Samba, hit a girl, Khushi Verma of Barian, near Udhampur, killing her on the spot.

Jammu, November 15
The Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Mayor Kavinder Bushan Gupta has survived a no-confidence motion here. JMC Commissioner Mubarak Singh yesterday announced that the no-confidence motion submitted by former Mayor Narinder Singh failed to reach the requisite figure of 36 due to which the proposal could not be moved forward. 

Narinder Singh has now decided to take up the matter with the Chief Minister and the bureaucracy. The former Mayor claimed that he was not informed about the move by the JMC Commissioner in advance.

The former Mayor alleged that the Commissioner made the announcement in his own office and not in the general house.”The Commissioner has no authority to accept or reject this motion. It is the right of the councillors”, Singh said. Refuting the allegations levelled against him, Commissioner Mubarak Singh said:”I had already informed the former Mayor that the number of votes required for the proposal was insufficient”.

Supporting his announcement, he maintained that Narinder Singh submitted a proposal to him having signature of 39 councillors only, out of which four councillors withdrew their names simultaneously.

“The councillors who withdrew their names from the proposal stated that they had signed the proposal earlier for the issue of central university and not for the no-confidence motion”, said the commissioner.

“Being one of the senior officer of the Jammu Municipal Corporation it was my duty to examine the issue .The proposal did not have the requisite figure. That is why I could not move it forward”. Mayor Kavinder Bushan Gupta could not be contacted for his comments.

Jammu, November 15
The Army today said it would continue to give all support during the current financial year to Ankur Children’s Home. The Counter-Insurgency Force (Ultimate) would continue to give all support to the children’s home.

Under Operation Sadbhavana, a children’s home - Ankur - was constructed by the force at Mari, Reasi, in January 2006. The home has 33 militancy- orphaned children, 23 boys and 10 girls, between the age group 5-19 from the remote areas of Gool, Mahore, Budhal, Ramban and Reasi. Apart from Ankur, the Army also constructed Shakti Sadan with an investment of Rs 35 lakh, which is a residential vocational training centre-cum-women empowerment centre.

To monitor and assess the ground situation, Gautam Sen, Principal Controller of Defence Accounts, Northern Command, paid a visit to the home in Reasi.

During his visit, he discussed the matter with Major-General M M S Rai, GOC CIF (U) and his staff officers. He also discussed the issue with P K Pole,Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, regarding various steps which could be taken to ensure the home did not reduce the scale of its activities under the civil administration.

Jammu, November 15
The coalition government has decided to spend Rs 9.5 crore to strengthen embankments of the Chenab in Akhnoor subdivision to prevent soil erosion. Minister for Health, Horticulture and Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma said Rs 9.5 crore would be spent on the Chenab

channelising around Akhnoor this fiscal to save fertile land from erosion during floods.

He said hundreds of kanals in the area had been washed away

by floods in the past and to tackle the problem, the government had formulated a comprehensive plan of Rs 19 crore.

During his day-long tour of the areas located on the right banks of Chenab at Akhnoor today, Sham Lal made an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and issued directions to engineers to start work on vulnerable spots.

He asked them to complete the works before the next summer.He

stressed the need for maintaining the quality of work as per the set

specifications and by using modern engineering techniques.

He, however, emphasised for judicious use of funds.

Saying that saving the lives and property was the prime duty of the government, he assured that all necessary measures would

be taken in this regard. He said officers would keep close vigil over the situation, especially during the rainy season when the threat of floods loomed large. He said a new survey of the vulnerable areas would be conducted to tackle the problem effectively.

The villages visited by the minister included Lehrian, Sangrampur,

Chack Biasa, Bhour, Dalpat, Chack Kirpalpur, Changwan, Devipur, Mera and Shetaliar. All these villages are located on the right banks of the Chenab and remain under threat of floods during the summer.

Doda, November 15
Asking women to come forward and contribute their bit so as to improve their socio-economic condition, the Saffron Valley Development Society (SVDS) urged the fair sex to avail benefits from various schemes introduced by the state government.

The state government had introduced various schemes wherein women could avail loans on marginal rate of interest for undertaking education and self-employment opportunities, said SVDS general secretary Mohammed Ibrahim Shah at an awareness camp organised at the Binoon Gandoh area of Doda today.

Organised by the State Women Development Corporation, the camp was held with an aim to educate women folk about the self-employment avenues available in the state.

SVDS members educated women participants about the need to avail benefits of self- employment schemes of the government.

The participants were acquainted abut loaning schemes, including NMDFC, NBCFDC and NHFDC available with the corporation.

They were also informed about new schemes recently introduced by the Women Development Corporation for militancy hit victims and handicapped women, who can start their own income generating units with the help of the corporation.

The SVDS general secretary referred to some instances where women from Doda, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar, after availing benefit of the schemes, have been running successful businesses. They had not only improved their socio-economic condition but also contributed to the state economy, he said.

Later, application forms were issued among the aspirants and they were asked to fulfill the necessary formalities so as to process their cases.

Jammu, November 15
The J&K State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Jammu, comprising Justice (retd) G. D. Sharma and B. L. Saraf, member, quashed a judgment dated October 31, 2005, passed by the Divisional Forum, Jammu, to the extent it directed payment of Rs 2 lakh along with interest accrued thereon and modified the same by substituting a direction to State Bank of India to pay a compensation of Rs 20,000 for causing financial loss and mental torture to respondent and also bear litigation charges of Rs 4,000 the form of appeal in addition to litigation charges of Rs 3000 already awarded by the Divisional Forum, Jammu.

A cheque for an amount of Rs 2 lakh issued by M/S Fancy Fabrics, Srinagar, in favour of Harcharan Singh, was deposited in a savings account maintained with State Bank of India. The same was lost in transit when sent through Linkers/Chanakaya Couriers Service, New Delhi, for withdrawl to the drawee Allahabad Bank, Karol Bagh, New Delhi. Although the encashment of the lost cheque had not been made from the drawee bank, Harcharan Singh was asked by State Bank of India for arranging a duplicate cheque draft/instrument in lieu of the lost instrument. Forced by negligent approach adopted by the SBI, the Divisional Consumer Forum, Jammu, directed it to pay the sum of Rs 2 lakh along with interest accrued thereon from the date of deposit till its realisation at prevalent rate of interest. The cost of litigation of Rs 3000 was also awarded.

Jammu, November 15
Softlab, an authorised learning centre of Punjab Technical University (PTU), Jalandhar, organised a two-day industrial visit for its students to the Baglihar power project in Chanderkote (Ramban).

The students and the management of the institute were taken around by the project authorities.

Baglihar Dam, also known as the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project, is a run-of-the-river project on the Chenab in Doda district.It was conceived in 1992. — TNS