|
|
As panchayat poll nears, govt pushes development works
Budget Session ‘Give top priority to Kashmir issue’ Employees
continue strike CM releases more funds for Pulwana |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Testing lab to check misbranding to come up in valley Security of two PDP leaders withdrawn
Govt mulls inducting SPOs in police
Farmers denied govt jobs in lieu of land
Manch threatens to gherao
Assembly
SAD flays statement of
Chidambaram
Rs 12 crore for psychiatric centre
Arms licence: Militant’s kin booked
Varsity Campus Additional Rs 70 lakh okayed
Army officer found dead
Board agrees on uniform math, science syllabus
Crime File
Sonia adjudged best speaker
|
|
As panchayat poll nears, govt pushes development works
Reasi, February 19 Already two such programmes were organised in areas away from the district headquarters in over past few days, another was organised today at a remote village Judda in Reasi district. The political factor behind the event was not lost on anyone as state minister Aijaz Ahmed Khan, under whose constituency this village falls, presided over in the presence of the battery of the district, tehsil and block-level officers, including additional deputy commissioner Avtar Singh. While harping on the development agenda of the coalition government, Khan said being a local MLA, he was fully aware of the problems being faced by the people of the area as he gave a patient hearing to their grievances. He assured the gathering that work on the Dugga road would be taken up shortly, while upgrade of several schools with adequate strength of staff was under active consideration of the government. He added that work on the Thorro-Judda, Throo-Challad and Dharmatha-Khanikote roads would be taken up soon under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna (PMGSY), while Rs 1 lakh each would be given for playgrounds in schools at Dhansal, Dugga, Khanikote, Challad and Hunder. He also announced sanctioning of two medical aid centres to be set up at suitable places between Arnas and Khanikote. He also assured to get more Anganwari centres sanctioned shortly. The minister did not forget to use the occasion for electoral gains as he informed the people that the panchayat elections would be held soon and exhorted them to elect representatives dedicated to development of their area at panchayat level so that remaining works could be initiated under various the state and central schemes. He directed the officers of all departments to frequently visit such far-flung areas.
|
|
Budget Session
Jammu, February 19 Although Panthers Party leader Harsh Dev Singh has called upon all opposition parties, including the PDP and the BJP, to oppose ‘unitedly’ the anti-people policies of the government, there is a remote chance of such unity due to ideological differences among them. The PDP has convened a meeting of its legislature party on February 21, on the eve of the beginning of the Budget session, to devise its strategy. “Being the main opposition party, it is our duty to effectively highlight the failure of the government,” PDP president Mehbooba Mufti told The Tribune. “This government has failed on all fronts, so all issues will be raised by the PDP in the coming session,” she replied when asked about the important issues to be highlighted by the party. She said the suggestion of the Panthers Party to unitedly corner the coalition government on vital issues would be discussed in the legislature party meeting. Leader of the BJP legislature party Chaman Lal Gupta ruled out any coordination with the PDP due to ‘ideological differences’ with the party. “We will try to coordinate with all Jammu-based opposition groups so as to effectively highlight the issue of discrimination against this region,” he said. “Besides economic issues, the party has decided to take up political issues like the surrender policy and recommendations of Justice Sagir Ahmed-led working group,” he added. Harsh Dev Singh, leader of the Panthers legislature party, reiterated the resolve of the party to oppose and expose the ruling alliance and play the role of a constructive and vibrant opposition in the Assembly. He said the party would expose the government for its doublespeak on Jammu, which had been subjected to unprecedented discrimination by the present regime. Harsh Dev said the alliance government had given the slogan of equitable treatment to all regions by ending all forms of discrimination against the Jammu region.
|
||
|
‘Give top priority to Kashmir issue’ Srinagar, February 19 Addressing Friday congregation at the Jamia Masjid here today, APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said a delegation of the APHC would be soon visiting New Delhi to hold talks with the visiting Pakistan leaders ahead of the talks scheduled to be held on February 25. The APHC delegation led by the Mirwaiz would include some top leaders of the separatist conglomerate to apprise the Pakistan leaders about its point of view. He said the Kashmir issue needed a solution pending for the past six decades during which the two neighbouring countries fought three wars. Any dialogue process would be futile unless it included the Kashmir issue on top priority, the APHC chairman said and sought immediate and concrete steps for the amicable and final solution of the issue. The Mirwaiz also expressed concern over the “conflicting” statements from various leaders on the talks and the Kashmir issue and urged the Centre to end the traditional stringent approach on the issue.
|
||
|
Employees
continue strike Srinagar,
February 19 General secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Employees Joint Action Committee Haji Bashir Ahmed said there were 48 urban local bodies in the valley. “When all the government departments have been given the benefits of the pay commission, why the employees of the local bodies are not being given the benefits of the same,” Ahmed said. He said the amount given to the urban local bodies in the valley was the 10 per cent amount from the devolution fund taken at the Lakhanpur toll plaza.He said an enhancement of 50 per cent in the amount would be enough to provide the benefits of the pay commission to the employees. “If they increase the devolution fund from 10 per cent to 15 per cent, the problem would be solved,” he said.
|
||
|
CM releases more funds for Pulwana Srinagar, February 19 The decision was taken at a review meeting of the District Development Board at Pulwama yesterday. The break-up of the funds is as follows: Rs 1 crore for repair of roads, which would be taken up in consultation with local legislators; Rs 50 lakh for upgrade of Bus Stand at Pulwama; Rs 30 lakh for upgrade of sports stadia at Pulwama and Pampore; Rs 69 lakh for completing the circular road at Pulwama; Rs 50 lakh for building in-patient department in Pulwama Hospital; Rs 42 lakh for completion of three receiving stations; Rs 21 lakh for infrastructure development at Degree College; Rs 60 lakh for work on Kakapora-Pakherpora road; Rs 10 lakh for laying pipes for the water supply scheme at Begum Bagh; and Rs 5 lakh for electrification of Sheikh Har Park. The Chief Minister also announced the setting up of the Suchekral Memorial Cultural Society for Promotion of Art and Culture for which he released Rs 50 lakh through the Department of Tourism and Culture, an official spokesman said.
|
||
|
Testing lab to check misbranding to come up in valley Srinagar, February 19 Highlighting the importance of branding of Kashmiri handmade products and the setting up of a testing laboratory, Farooqi said the branding and testing laboratory was an urgent requirement and “the government has already provided funds for it”. Expressing concern over the misbranding of machine-made products as original handmade Kashmiri products, manufacturers, exporters and traders of Kashmiri products were urged not to indulge in it. Emphasis was laid on need to improve the quality of these products. To generate a mass awareness campaign about the adverse effects of such activities, a seven-member committee had been formed. “We need to improve the quality of our products so as to make it competitive in both domestic and international markets,” said Nasir Hamid Khan, secretary-general of the KCCI. Despite the approval of the Geographical Indication (GI) in three crafts, the same awaits implementation in the absence of basic infrastructural facilities. “Getting the GI approval with reference to crafts is our main concern. We got it for pashmina, kani shawl and sozani embroidery last year,” said Hakim Mohammad Iqbal, coordinator (Networking and Promotion), CDI. Kani shawl got it on July 29, followed by pashmina on September 12 and sozani embroidery on November 27. The CDI is trying for GI recognition for 10 other crafts, including carpets. With the GI approval, an intellectual property right, Kashmiri artisans, who perfect art of making handmade crafts for years, will now have exclusive rights over these crafts. The GI is a name or sign used on certain products that correspond to a specific geographical location. Iqbal said despite the GI approval, the CDI had not been able to implement it due to lack of basic infrastructure. “We did not know the parameters about how to test the quality of pashmina. We consulted experts who set parameters. Testing labs and basic infrastructure are the first requirement,” he added. The coordinator informed that the CDI had approached the state government with a proposal to set up these facilities. “The Chief Minister has agreed to it. A sum of Rs 3 crore is required for setting up testing labs.” Iqbal said the CDI aimed at becoming a catalyst for change. “It endeavours to renew relevance, interest and economic potential of handicrafts. Through its vision, the institute aims at opening doors for leadership and enterprise, while reviving the pride and value of craft heritage.” “Upgrading skill levels among artisans and design development is our biggest concern. Our aim is to revive crafts those are almost dead and provide them protection against various threats,” he said.
|
||
|
Security of two PDP leaders withdrawn Srinagar, February 19 A PDP spokesman here said Omar had threatened in the District Development Board meeting yesterday that he would not release any funds to the district as the PDP had held demonstrations against him. Protests were held in Pulwama as part of the party’s protest against the alleged human rights violations. The administration allegedly followed the Chief Minister’s broad directive with withdrawal of security from district president Ghulam Mohiudin Mir and General Secretary of Youth Wing Showkat
Gayoor.
|
||
|
Govt mulls inducting SPOs in police
Jammu, February 19 The government is seriously contemplating to induct the SPOs on a regular basis after the Assembly session, a senior leader told The Tribune. If their demand was fulfilled, a large number of SPOs would be adjusted in the state police. A senior minister told The Tribune that they had decided to take up the issue in the session. “I can’t give more details at this moment. But surely the issue will be discussed in detail for betterment of the SPOs.” On many occasions,the SPOs, a majority of them from Doda, Rajouri and Poonch districts, have lodged their protests in support of their “genuine” demand. It was the time when militancy was at its peak and the government then appointed SPOs to assist the police and other security forces. They have played a dominant role in curtailing militancy, especially in the remotest areas of the Jammu region.A large number of SPOs have sacrificed their lives while fighting the terrorists. “We have been serving as SPOs for a long time and playing an important role in fighting militancy. The government must assure us job security. It is very He added, “We are already serving in the police department, so we should be exempted from the physical test for permanent recruitment to the police.” When asked why the state police had not been recruiting the SPOs as permanent employees, he said: “There are some physical standards in the police department, which a candidate has to qualify for getting the job. The government has already relaxed some rules for the SPOs. Still a few of them are not eligible to get a job in the police.” He added, “We have to obey the orders forwarded by the government.If it permits us to recruit the SPOs as permanent employees, then we don’t have any problem. But we can’t make or change any rule ourselves. It should be decided and enacted by the state government.” NK Tripathi, Special DGP, CRPF, said, “We have recruited all those SPOs who have qualified the required test to become a part of the CRPF. The government has already given some relaxations to the SPOs and authorities are discussing in detail how to adjust them in different forces.”
|
|
Farmers denied govt jobs in lieu of land
Surankote (Poonch), February 19 Furthermore, at least a member each of every such family has been ‘working’ in the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department on the ‘verbal’ order of the officers of the department for the past over six years, but they had been paid any salary till now. “The authorities have betrayed us. While acquiring our land, officers of the PHE Department promised to give a job to a member each of such families,” regretted Farooq Hussain of Lathoong village of Surankote, who has been moving from pillar to post to get justice. Farooq is also ‘working’ in the PHE Department on a verbal order, but had not been paid any salary. Mohammed Razaq of Serichawana said despite having only a few kanals, they had donated one kanal to the PHE Department hoping to get a government job. “Except promises nothing has been done far,” he pointed out. He added that he had been working in the department without salary for the past seven years. “After acquiring our lands and constructing a water tank, the PHE authorities had engaged our family members for water supply work and promised to pay them salary,” said Hafiz Ullah. “Six years have passed, but nothing has been paid to them so far,” he regretted. In Poonch district, the PHE authorities had acquired lands from farmers for the construction of water tanks and other buildings in lieu of a promise to give a job to a member each of such families. Fed up with promises unfulfilled by the higher authorities, over 200 employees, who had been working without salary for the past six years, had threatened to disrupt water supply in Poonch district if their demands were not fulfilled. These employees had further warned that they would lock motor rooms and other buildings constructed on their land. Chief Engineer, PHE, Dalip Bakshi, while admitting that the department had committed a mistake by promising jobs to these families, told The Tribune that the government had already withdrawn the order regarding employment in exchange of land. He, however, said these ‘workers’ were engaged on a need basis and they had not been recruited as regular employees. “The department had not made any written commitment to these people,” he added.
|
|
Manch threatens to gherao
Assembly
Jammu, February 19 In a press statement issued here yesterday, spokesperson of the manch and former MLA Bali Bhagat reacted strongly to media reports that the NC-Congress coalition had reached an understanding to introduce a Bill in the Assembly session to ban inter-district recruitments. He said the manch would be launching an agitation across the Jammu province and meet the legislators of various parties to oppose the proposed Bill as it was against the interest of weaker sections. The spokesperson said the manch would resort to a protest in front of the residences of all those legislators who would support such legislation. Meanwhile, the AJABM has appealed all the SC/ST legislators, including Deputy Chief Minister, to rise above party considerations and oppose the proposed Bill tooth and nail to safeguard the interest of the downtrodden communities. If they failed in their duty towards their communities, the manch would be forced to launch a campaign for their social boycott. Expressing hope that people would extend their full cooperation to the downtrodden people, Bhagat asked all SC/ST organisations to unite and be prepared for a struggle to seek justice. |
|
SAD flays statement of
Chidambaram
Jammu, February 19 A meeting of the party held here today under the chairmanship of Mahinder Singh strong exception to the statement of the Union Home Minister in this regard. The meeting pointed out that Sikh youths, whether in Punjab or Jammu and Kashmir, were never anti-India and they should be given amnesty as their cause was more justified than the Kashmiri youth, who had crossed over to occupied Kashmir (PoK) to get arms training to wage war against India. |
|
Rs 12 crore for psychiatric centre
Jammu, February 19 The rehabilitation of such patients, who by and large face neglect and discrimination by the society, had been a distant dream till now as there was no rehabilitation centre in the winter capital till now. The work has been allotted to the Jammu and Kashmir Projects’ Construction Corporation (JKPCC) and the foundation stone is likely to be laid this month, official sources in the Health Ministry told The Tribune. The double-storied structure would come up on a piece of 10 kanals behind the Government Chest Diseases Hospital in close proximity to the existing Government Medical College and Hospital as required under MCI guidelines, they said. The psychiatric centre would be equipped with a de-addiction centre on the ground floor, while the first floor would be meant for the in-door patients, said the sources, adding that with the passage of time three more floors would be added for the expansion of the centre and increasing bed strength. Though the basic work has already been initiated by the construction agency, the state government yesterday approved the final map of the structure, they said. Once the OPD is complete, the investigation wings would also be shifted to the centre. As of now, the Jammu region, comprising 10 districts, has only one government psychiatric disease hospital at Ambphalla. One hundred fifty to 200 OPD patients visit the 75-bedded hospital, which caters to the patients from all 10 districts of the Jammu region on a daily basis.
|
|
|
Arms licence: Militant’s kin booked
Miran Sahib (Jammu), February 19 Neeta, who figures in the Top-20 Most Wanted List of the Indian Government, belongs to Simbal Camp village in Miran Sahib and his family, including his brother and mother, live here. A senior police officer told The Tribune that a case under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the RPC had been registered against Ravinder Singh for getting an arms licence in the name of his father Darshan Singh, who died five years ago (as per the death certificate issued by the Miran Sahib police). The police officer confirmed that Ravinder Singh was also involved in anti-national and criminal activities. A case of attempt to murder has also been registered against him at the Miran Sahib police station in 2005, the police said. This incident has raised fingers on the working of the state police that how a man could get the arms licence issued in the name of a dead person. Replying to a query, Riaz Iqbal, SHO, Satwari police station, said, “Ravinder Singh managed to get some certificate issued in the name of his deceased father and used it for getting fake licence. The SHO said they were putting their all efforts to arrest the accused and raids were being conducted at his house and several other places. However, Ravinder could not be arrested, till the filing of this report. However, his wife said her husband had gone for some business purpose and would return tomorrow. The Centre has also requested from Pakistan to handover Neeta to them. Intelligence sources here revealed that Neeta had close links with the ISI and the Hizbul-Mujaheedin outfit. A senior police officer said a number of criminal cases, including bomb blasts in trains and buses plying on the Jammu-Pathankot Highway in 1988 and 1999, had been registered against him. The Kathua police had lodged last FIR against him in October, 2001, for the assassination of a DSP, Devinder Sharma. However, all senior police officers remained tight lipped over the entire issue.
|
|
|
Varsity Campus Additional Rs 70 lakh okayed
Udhampur, February 19 He told a delegation of the Panthers Students Union (PSU), the frontal organisation of the J&K Panthers Party that called on him that efforts were being made to get the construction of the proposed campus soon. The government had already sanctioned Rs 4.25 crore for the purpose. The demand to construct a campus at Udhampur has been hanging fire. Though funds have been sanctioned, execution of the construction work has not been started so far. The PSU has been spearheading the demand for quite some time. Its district unit had recently observed strikes at local educational institutions, besides staging demonstrations. District unit president Ejaz Sumbria alleged that the students from Udhampur district were being discriminated against in the allotment of the hostel facility at Jammu University. Due to this, the students have to put up in private lodges and guesthouses. Mankotia assured to take up the matter with the university authorities. |
|
|
Army officer found dead
Jammu,February 19 Official sources said the officer was identified as Lt-Col Pardeep Kotnala, a native of Meerut.He was posted as Deputy Commandant, 13 Sector, Rashtriya Rifles, in Rajouri district. The police has initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Cr PC. When contacted, Jammu-based Defence PRO, Lt-Col Biplab Nath, said that preliminary reports suggested that the officer died either due to brain haemorrhage or cardiac arrest. However, a court of inquiry had been initiated, he added. Being posted in an operational area, the officer was living alone. |
|
|
Board agrees on uniform math, science syllabus
Jammu, February 19 The decision has been taken to facilitate the participation of the students of the state in national-level single entrance test for engineering and medicine from 2013. While commenting in support of the COBSE decision, Prof Desh Bandu Gupta, BOSE chairman, said, “This will only benefit the students. Earlier, due to varying syllabu, the students had to put extra efforts to prepare for the entrance tests.” Commenting on the COBSE decision, the BOSE chairman said the decision for uniform syllabus and single national-level entrance test had been taken after a thorough exercise of more than 20 meetings by the members of the State Boards of Education of all states of the country. The chairman said a comprehensive book would be made available to the students in the market for preparing for the single entrance test. The new syllabus has already been made available on the BOSE website for class XI. “Printed syllabus would also be made available to the students very soon,” BOSE joint secretary AK Abroll said. Abroll maintained that this year, the examination of class XI and XII had already been taken on the new pattern in the Kashmir valley and now suit would be followed in Jammu as well. |
|
|
Crime File
Jammu, February 19 Three consume poison
Three persons allegedly consumed some poisonous substances to commit suicide in the Jammu region on Friday, the police said. It said Rita Devi, a resident of Sinkanderpur in Bishnah, Tarseem Lal a resident of Bari Brahmana, and Shamim Kosar, a resident of Ghambir Brahmana in Rajouri, were admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, after they had consumed some poisonous substances. The police said cases had been registered against them and their statements and that of their family members were being recorded. |
|
|
Sonia adjudged best speaker
Udhampur, February 19 The event was part of the ongoing campaign to create awareness about the ill-effects of tobacco being conducted jointly by the Department of Drugs and Food Control and the Department of Education, Health and Information under the aegis of the district level monitoring committee of Udhampur. A total number of 42 students from both schools participated in the symposium. Doctors and experts on the subject delivered lectures focusing on the ill-effects of tobacco. Assistant controller drugs Munish Gupta and drug inspector Bhawna gave a brief account of the campaign. Gupta informed that the campaign was designed for the students of higher secondary schools in a way that its message could percolate to them. |
|
| 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 | |
