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Need to strengthen education system, says Murthy
Technocrats hold protest
3 varsity students awarded
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NBP seeks 27 pc quota for OBCs
Become catalysts of socio-economic change: Vohra to varsities
MC Poll
Three killed in road mishap
2 jawans killed in gunfight
Residents fear some ultras may have sneaked in
Amandeep Murder Case
Pilgrims still stranded at Purmandal shrine
Enforce ban on polythene strictly: Micky to MC
Journalist Soofi dead
Akram elected chief of NSF’s Poonch unit
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Need to strengthen education system, says Murthy
Katra, November 16 Bringing to the fore two faces of the country with a population of 1.17 billion, NR Narayana
Murthy, non-executive chairman of the Infosys Technologies, said today if the country had to progress, every individual had to exhibit confidence and hope and the education system had to be made perfect to match the changing trends across the globe. “If we try hard, we can wipe tears of the poorest of the poor. The recipe is simple -- identify ourselves first as Indians, rise above the affiliations of caste, religion, and region and embrace discipline,” he said. In an exclusive tête-à-tête with The Tribune, Murthy said India rapidly emerging as a software development hub was a clear indication of our education system, which had done reasonably good. However, at the same time it was still far from being perfect and hence efforts were needed to develop a problem-solving oriented education system, he
added. Murthy hoped that going by the developments in the field of education the country would move towards a problem-solving oriented system. On HRD Minister Kapil Sibal’s schemes (abolishing board exams), he felt that the issue should be discussed and debated threadbare by experts, including stakeholders, so as to arrive at a consensus. “It has advantages and disadvantages. Putting pressure on young minds is not good, but at the same time if we don’t have examinations the understanding of the issues may get impaired,” said
Murthy. On the IT sector, he said as far as software exports were concerned the country had done pretty well, but still we had a long way to go in applying info to enhance productivity in the private sector. “We, in public and private sectors, have to look at IT application with a focused mind,” he felt. Asked how to make graduates employable, he reminded all about the need for a problem-solving oriented education system. “If we help the youngsters to overcome the tendency of only passing exams and motivate them to learn new things, help them think originally, I believe they would be at an advantage,” he said. On the dearth of good teachers, he said much needed to be done by the universities. The varsities should start specialised courses in teaching to cope with the situation and we do need more bachelors in education. Earlier, in his convocation speech, Murthy said future of the country were the youth. He asked the passing-out graduates and postgraduates to contribute positively for an equitable progress of all citizens of India. “At present, we find two sides of India, one completely developed in science and technology, economic aspects and all-round growth and development, the other struggling to come out of poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition and ill-heath conditions,” he said, advising the pass-outs to bridge the gap between the two. “Going by the rapid strides, I feel within next 30 years this country will be the hub of vital economic activities and an important seat of learning where people from across the globe will come to learn,” Murthy said. |
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Technocrats hold protest
Jammu, November 16 “We are forced to take this step as government officials have not taken any concrete steps for regularisation of our services,” Surinder
Radhotra, president of Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Technocrats Association
(JKATA), said. The association’ representatives had earlier met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir, who had directed the adviser to the Chief Minister to expedite the regularisation of their services as junior agricultural assistants on an urgent basis from July 31 this year. More than three months had elapsed and the government had still not ordered the issuance of appropriate orders for
regularisation, Radhotra alleged. “It is surprising that the government has not issued formal orders despite the announcement of increasing monthly honorarium from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 of agricultural technocrats in the last Budget session,” general secretary of the JKATA Rajiv Sharma said. This apathy had forced the association and the Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Technocrats United Forum
(JKATUF) of the Kashmir division to hold today’s protest, he added. — PTI |
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3 varsity students awarded
Katra, November 16 “After receiving the the Chancellor’s gold medals, I feel my responsibilities have increased manifold. Now, I have decided to become an IAS officer and serve the country,” said Vipul
Panjeta, who had clinched the gold medal by securing the first position in BTech
(ECE) by scoring 9.39 cumulative grade point average (CGPA). Another gold medallist Tania
Mengi, who is already working with a corporate house in Ludhiana, gave the credit of her success to the faculty of the
university. Mengi, who had bagged the award for her outstanding performance in MBA, said she had always wanted to become a teacher and would soon serve the nation by teaching in remote villages. “I am happy that I got the result of my hard work and now I would be able to choose the job that I always wanted to do,” said Shriya
Misri, who was awarded a gold medal for securing the top position in MBA (BE) in 2008 by scoring 9.52
CGPA. “After attending the convocation ceremony, my thinking has changed and I believe that every human being should try his best to achieve his targets,” she said. |
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NBP seeks 27 pc quota for OBCs
Jammu, November 16 Addressing a press conference here today, NBP national president KK Manotra pointed out that for the last 20 years the OBCs in the state had been struggling to get their constitutional rights and successive state governments had ignored them. He demanded that
Jats, Saini and Yogi communities be included in the OBC list and benefits of reservation should be made available for the economically weaker sections of the upper castes as well. Manhotra said reservation should also be given to the poor irrespective of their castes. The NBP has expressed concern over problems being faced by the residents of the drought-affected areas. He pointed out that a majority of the population was on the verge of starvation and the authorities should provide free seed, pesticides, fertilisers and ration to the affected families. The party also supported the ongoing agitation of the SRTC employees. Mandotra said the government should adopt a humane approach while dealing with them. He advised the government to accept their demands if it wanted to resolve the crisis. The NBP leader also condemned the use of force on the agitating staff and demanded the enhancement of salaries of anganwari
workers/homeguard jawans and SPOs, as they had not received any benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations. The NBP has also asked for the lifting of ban on pre-paid mobile connections and asked the government to evolve a mechanism to protect the interests of the customers as well as safeguard national security. “Instead of imposing a ban on pre-paid mobile connections, the government should take some effective steps to stop their misuse,” Mandotra said. He announced that his party would participate in the forthcoming civic bodies and panchayat elections. He, however, asked the government to implement the 73rd and 74th Amendments of the Constitution to empower the local bodies in the real sense. |
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Become catalysts of socio-economic change: Vohra to varsities
Katra, November 16 Addressing the second convocation of the SMVDU here today, Vohra asked the students to follow the path shown by
Murthy. “The outgoing students have the freedom to serve anywhere, but it would be great if, at the end of the day, they come back and serve the state,” Vohra said. He added, “It is imperative for them to remain committed to ethical values, be accountable and find solutions to the problems of the people wherever they go.” He also suggested Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to benefit from the varsity that had done remarkably well in the energy sector. The Governor stated that the varsity had set up a centre for research in energy technologies to work out solutions to power pilferage. He stressed the need for taking initiatives with regard to solar and other renewable energy resources to supplement efforts of the government in providing power to remote and far-flung areas. Meanwhile, the Governor said research was also underway in the university to develop sensors and electronic gadgets to detect human movement across the border. Addressing the gathering, Omar said success of the students outside the campus was linked with success of the state and, as such, they had to face the challenges bravely. He said the present day global scenario had put varied challenges before the youth. He asked the students to make honesty, transparency and public service benchmark of their workings. Later, the Governor awarded a Doctor of Science
(Honoris Causa) to Murthy for his invaluable contribution to the country. He also presented medals to the outstanding students for their excellent academic performances. In all, 337 students received degrees, including three
Phds. |
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PCC forms panel to shortlist candidates
Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service
Jammu, November 16 PCC chief Saifuddin Soz, MP, has constituted a committee of eight members headed by Minister for Relief, Rehabilitation and Revenue Raman Bhalla to shortlist potential candidates for the forthcoming JMC elections. Besides, Raman Bhalla, other members of the committee included Mangat Ram Sharma, former Deputy Chief Minister, Amrit Malhotra, MLC, Madan Lal Sharma, Lok Sabha member for Jammu-Poonch seat, Mula Ram, former minister, Ravinder Sharma, MLC, Amolak Singh and Yogesh Sawhney, former minister. Meanwhile, Ravinder Sharma, a spokesperson for the PCC, addressed a workers’ meetings at Nowshera and Sunderbani in which various problems of people were discussed. Sharma was apprised by the party workers that there was acute a shortage of fertilisers as well as quality seeds. He said the sowing season was at its peak and the farmers were facing problems to have quality seeds and fertilisers. The dealers had deposited money for fertilisers, but till date only one truck had reached Sunderbani against the demand of over 20 trucks for the Nowshera-Sunderbani area. Sharma has conveyed to Ghulam Hassan Mir, Agriculture Minister, and the registrar Cooperatives and the MD, JAKFED, about this problem. He was assured by the minister and officials that sufficient quantity of fertilisers and quality seeds would be supplied to Nowshera-Sunderbani.
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Three killed in road mishap
Jammu, November 16 SPO found dead
A Special Police Officer
(SPO) Kartar Singh of Champal Gandoh was found dead under suspicious circumstances in his house. Police said the victim had been performing his duty as SPO with a contractor Ravinder Singh from the past five years at Champal
Gandoh. Two consume poison
Two persons including a woman allegedly consumed poison at their respective houses in Jammu. The police said, Mohinder Singh of Kotli Shah Doula and a woman Shakuntla Devi of Muthi near KC Public School were hospitalised in Government Medical College here. |
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2 jawans killed in gunfight
Srinagar, November 16 The Army killed a militant in Keran, while a Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in an encounter in Pulwama, Lt-Col JS Brar, Srinagar-based Army spokesperson, said today. The martyred jawans are from 9 Rajput, but officials declined to identify them. The operation in the Keran sector was still on in the evening while it was called off in Pulwama where two militants were believed to be hiding. The police identified killed militant as Rehman Gorsie, alias Aqib-ul-Islam, a battalion commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen. The Army spokesperson told The tribune that the valley had seen 36 infiltration bids this year so far and out of which they foiled 22 bids, meaning the militants were either killed or pushed back, while all infiltrators in the rest were shot dead. However, official sources said there were many more successful infiltration attempts by militants this year. Top Army officers had said on August 26 on the sidelines of an interaction with the media that the Kashmir valley had witnessed 69 successful infiltrations by militants. This number has only gone up since then. The figure for the last year was less than 50 for the whole state. If police sources are to be believed, the number of militants, who have managed to sneak into the state this year, is well above 400, considerably higher than the average number of infiltrators annually. Though different security agencies, including the state police, have varying figures of infiltrators, there is unanimity among them about increase in their numbers. They have attributed the increase in infiltrations to Pakistan’s strategy of pushing several groups of militants at once so that the chances of some of them being able to make it to the Indian side increase. The infiltration attempt by a 120-strong group of well-armed militants and porters, who were around 40 in numbers with rest being militants, through Kupwara and Gurez in early April was a case in point. Many of them were killed in encounters spanning over many days, but many also managed to reach this side. |
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Residents fear some ultras may have sneaked in
Ramgarh, November 16 The residents of various villages in this sector feared that the tall claims of the BSF that the infiltration attempt was foiled could be a “lie” as last year too the BSF had claimed to have foiled a similar infiltration bid in the sector. However, after two days the militants had surfaced in Kaily Mandi village in Samba and killed six persons. The villagers said if the militants could kill a senior BSF officer by triggering an IED blast, there was every possibility that the militants might have sneak into the Indian side as well. “If the militants can kill a high ranking officer of the BSF, there are chances that some of them might have managed to enter our territory,” said Ram Dayal, a resident of Langoor village near the international border. When The Tribune team visited the spot where the DIG of the BSF was killed, most of the villages en route the border wore a deserted look as people preferred to stay inside. “We are afraid to go out, as we are not sure whether some infiltration has taken place or not. Last year’s incident is still fresh in our minds when militants, who had infiltrated into our side, killed six innocent civilians in the same sector,” said Keshew, a resident of Keso village of Ramgarh sector in Samba district. The villagers say that late last night they woke up due to the sound of heavy gun shots that continued for several hours and they were even more frightened to hear the IED blast in the morning. “Last night, the firing started around 2 am and continued for several hours. We understood it was an infiltration bid. Earlier also there have been instances of infiltration bid from this sector,” said Anmol, a resident of Keso village, who stays a few yards from the barbed fence near which the firing took place. Though the BSF has denied any infiltration took place, the security around the area has been tightened as the security forces have been kept on high alert along the international border, especially in the Ramgarh sector. |
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Bail applications of cops rejected
DS Chauhan
Jammu, November 16 The police officials during the investigation had allegedly fudged material evidence. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) had opposed the bail applications expressing apprehension that in the event of granted bail, the petitioners being senior officers might tamper with the prosecution evidence. It was further argued that the seized electronic record revealed that the police officials along with officials from the Forensic Laboratory had been in contact with accused Choudhary brothers even before the incident occurred, suggesting the involvement of the accused in the murder of Amandeep. It was further pleaded by the prosecution that the petitioners were involved in a heinous crime as they had fudged vital evidence in the case by replacing the weapon of offence to dismantle the prosecution case and cause benefit to the accused, while trying to pollute the stream of justice, bringing the police organisation to disrepute. The court, while rejecting the bail applications, held that the case presented an extraordinary setting in which the investigation of crime was handled by the petitioners. The material gathered during the investigation unmistakably pointed out that the petitioners were engaged in a serious crime of causing the casualty of justice by fudging the material evidence in a murder case, allegedly in pursuance of a criminal conspiracy hatched with the father and uncles of accused Jatinder Singh for pecuniary benefits. The manner in which the crime of murder was dealt with by the petitioners as police officers, responsible for bringing the authors of crime to justice, has sent shock waves among peace loving citizens. The court further ruled that the interests of the community at large would be seriously jeopardised if the petitioners were granted bail. The direct evidence of manipulation of the weapon of offence comprised eyewitness accounts of two women police officials, holding fragile positions, who may not be able to withstand the clout and influence enjoyed by the petitioners, particularly Manohar Singh, the then SSP of Jammu. The court further held that “desi katta” allegedly used as the weapon of offence had not been seized so far. The weapon of offence was allegedly removed by the petitioners.
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Pilgrims still stranded at Purmandal shrine
Purmandal (Samba), November 16 Known as Gupt Ganga, the Purmandal is the most sacred shrine of the Jammu region, located 28 km from the city. On every Amavsya, thousands of pilgrims from different parts of the region visit this shrine to have a holy dip. As it was a Somwati Amavsya, considered the most auspicious, the number of pilgrims increased manifold, but the authorities did not take any step to provide basic amenities to them. Octogenarian Soma Devi, a resident of Changia village of Bishnah tehsil, waited to catch a bus since 12 noon, but could not do so till 5 pm due to a heavy rush. “For elderly pilgrims like me it is not possible to run after the bus,” she said, pointing out that a number of pilgrims were stranded due to the non-availability of transportation. Like Soma Devi, many pilgrims were “trapped” at the shrine due to lack of public transportation. “I came here with my family on Sunday, but now find it difficult to return home due to poor bus service,” said Sansar Chand of RS Pura. Interestingly, the authorities were knowing that thousands of pilgrims would visit the shrine on Monday, but additional buses were not deployed on the route. There was only routine one-hour service of the buses. |
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Enforce ban on polythene strictly: Micky to MC
Jammu, November 16 Chairing a meeting of the Jammu Development Authority (JDA), JMC and Floriculture Ddepartment to discuss beautification of the city, the deputy chairman stressed on working out a joint strategy for carrying out extensive landscaping within the city. Stressing on decongestion of roads, Micky directed the JDA to construct multi-storied parking lots on the pattern of those existing in Delhi, Singapore and other metros in Raghnath Bazar, Link road and Panjthirthi areas. Reviewing the sanitation situation in and around the city, Micky directed the JMC authorities to construct more sanitary units. He also called for regularly monitoring cleanliness in the city, besides carrying out regular cleanliness drives for sensitising the public. Discussing the measures to check noise pollution, Micky directed to enforce a ban on loudspeakers during night hours. He also emphasised on maintaining the quality of food items, especially milk and milk products, being sold in the city. For this, he called for constituting checking squads that would conduct regular raids at different places in the city and ascertain the quality of food items available in the markets. |
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Journalist Soofi dead
Srinagar, November 16 Hundreds of people, including CM Omar Abdullah, separatist leaders, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Geelani, Mohammad Yasin Malik and Shabir Ahmad Shah attended Nimaza Jenaza, special prayers. Soofi had been associated with the Urdu daily, “Khidmat” for several years, after which he launched his own Urdu daily, “Srinagar Times” in 1969. He continued to remain its Editor-in-Chief, who has also written several books in Urdu. Governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, union ministers and former chief ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad and Farooq Abdullah have expressed their condolences on the death of the senior journalist. Governor NN Vohra, expressing grief over the demise of Soofi, said he was saddened to learn about the demise of Soofi sahib who had made a valuable contribution to the development of Urdu journalism in the state. The Chief Minister said Soofi had made a distinguished contribution in the field of journalism spanning over a period of five decades. Meanwhile, all members of the Managing Committee of the Press Club, Jammu, today mourned the death of Soofi. The members held a condolence meeting on the premises of the club and observed a two-minute silence and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul. |
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Akram elected chief of NSF’s Poonch unit
Jammu, November 16 According to a statement issued here, those appointed office-bearers were Mohammad Ansar Akram Khan (president), Nadeem Farooq Khan (vice-president), Sohil Shahzad Malik (general secretary), Manpreet Kaur (organising secretary), Younis Mushtaq (adviser), Ahmed Faraz (cashier), Gurpreet Kaur (publicity secretary) and Syed Nadeem Hashmi (press secretary). Syed Basharat Ali, Syed Yawar Abass, Javed Ahmed, Avinder Kaur, Syed Sibtain Ali, Gohar Fatima, Ibrar Bukhari, Nazia Anjum, Prinkya, Sandeep Sharma, Sonia Sharma and Gagandeep Kaur have been elected as members of the forum. Nadeem Afzal, in charge of the NSF (Poonch district), said the students were facing problems in Poonch and the adjoining areas and the campus of Jammu University was also in a bad condition. The NSF would try to highlight the students’ problems, he assured. |
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Katra, November 16
Srinagar, November 16
