Jammu, February 19
The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu has discontinued multipurpose e-learning kiosks set up in 2007 to educate farmers in remote areas.

Citing funds shortage, the varsity authorities said it was not viable for them to carry on with the project. IT communication was aimed at reaching remote areas to bridge the gap between "knowledge ability and its dissemination."

Official sources, however, maintain that the project ran into controversy after the State Vigilance Organisation registered a case of corruption against former Vice-Chancellor of the varsity Nagendra Sharma.

The former VC was charged with purchasing certain equipment at exorbitant rates and making illegal appointments.

With its studio head office at Chatha campus, the varsity had roped in its off-site campuses, research stations and Krishi Vigyan Kendras of Jammu division.

The e-learning kiosks were set up at Poonch, Rajouri, Nowshera, Jourian, Udheywalla, Marh, Raya, RS Pura, Kathua, Samba and Billawar.

The objective of the project was to promote self-reliance amongst the farming community to override compulsions being confronted by lack of formal education.

Reports from certain quarters said that the varsity has started winding up the project. As part of the process, the varsity has already vacated some rented accommodation.

The touch screen based e-learning kiosks were equipped with both online and offline mode and interface delivery system. The set-up had provisions for interactive lectures and other forms of simple-to-operate multimedia presentation programmes.

Mainly, the project was conceived to facilitate information on modern technical know-how on cash crops to rural youth. It was also aimed at facilitating information on high-quality and genetically modified seeds of various crops, besides suggesting measures for pest control and weed management.

"Due to fund constraints the varsity could not renew its contract with the satellite service providing company," said Dr KS Rism, director, research and extension education.

"The varsity is committed to the cause of farm development. Village visits and stay programmes are a part of it. We visit villages for demonstrations and lectures whenever the farmers invite us," he added.

Surankote (Poonch), February 19
Although there is a competition among political groups to take credit of the completion of the Mughal Road, leaders have maintained silence over the deplorable condition of the existing Jammu-Poonch National Highway. The 28-km track on this highway from Bhimbher Gali (BG) to Surankote has virtually turned into a death trap because of its worst condition.

The GREF Authorities have taken up the task of widening of this road, but the work has been going on at a snail’s pace and the condition of this track has been deteriorating with every passing day.

As the alternate road connecting Poonch district with Rajouri via Bafliaz and Dera Gali (DG) has been closed after heavy snowfall, inhabitants of this belt have no option but to travel on the 28-km track which is full of potholes and trenches due to the ongoing widening work. The condition of the road can be gauged from the fact that it took one-and-a-half-hour to cover this stretch from Surankote to BG via Zarianwali Gali.

“Everyday we have to put our lives on risk while passing through this track,” observed Hanif Mohammad, a resident of Surankote, who is running a shop in the town. Pointing towards the condition of the road, he said except promises, the authorities have done nothing to accelerate the work on this track.

Before snowfall, locals preferred to travel through the Bafliaz Road, but after the closure of the track they are forced to take the BG Road to reach their destination.

Bharat Bhushan Gupta, president of the Jammu-Poonch Transporters Union, said they had repeatedly brought the matter to the notice of the authorities. “It is all due to our repeated meetings and representations to the authorities that work on this track has expedited, but more needed to be done,” he said, and demanded that work on this track should be started on a war-footing basis to avoid mishaps on this road.

Highlighting the woes of the transporters due to the worst condition of the road, he said vehicle plying on this track usually developed technical snag due to prevailing trenches and potholes. He said the authorities had promised to complete the work in March 2010, but in the prevailing conditions there was a remote chance of meeting the target.

Shamim Manhas, a resident of Surankote, said the work of widening of the Jammu-Poonch National Highway was started in 1996, but the progress of work was not on the expected lines. He pointed out that this road was vital for the defence point of view and lies along the LoC.

Jammu, February 19
Besides combating terrorism in the restive state, the Army continues to play saviour to people in militancy-infested remote areas.

A unit medical officer helped in saving two lives in Rajouri district.

In one such incident on October 21 last year, a five-year-old child of Tain village in Rajouri district mistakenly consumed a pesticide and lost consciousness.

On receiving information, the medical officer of an Army unit rushed to the village to treat the child.

The officer immediately stabilised the condition of the child by administering intravenous fluids.

The child was then evacuated to the Mendhar Civil Hospital in the unit ambulance along with a nursing assistant. The prompt action to save the child was widely appreciated by villagers and the local administration.

In another incident, a two-and-a-half-year-old girl fell from the roof of her house while playing, sustaining severe multiple injuries on her skull.

The profusely bleeding child was brought to the an Army unit medical inspection room in the night by the villagers.

After stabilising her condition, the medical officer evacuated the child to the Mendhar Civil Hospital in the unit ambulance accompanied by a nursing assistant and a quick reaction team for protection in the night.

The girl survived only due to initial treatment and evacuation to the Civil Hospital.

Incidentally, the same RMO came to the rescue of both victims.

Such attitude goes down well in strengthening the mutual bond between the Army and people. This has already manifested itself in the changed outlook of residents of the state towards the Army.

NK Tripathi, DG (Special), CRPF, is a Madhya Pradesh cardre IPS officer. He is the brain behind community policing which he started in MP. He also opened a domestic violence preventive cell much before an Act prohibiting it came to being. Triapthi’s leadership has led the CRPF nail many militants.

The CRPF looks ahead at the challenging task of providing security on the Jammu-Srinagar highway as well besides its role in providing internal security in the state. Tripathi reveals how the CRPF, which has the highest number of troopers among all paramilitary forces in the world, is gearing up to the challenges.

Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): You had worked mainly with the civil police. How has been your transition from a police officer to the CRPF officer?

NK Tripathi (NKT): Policing by and large remains the same. In civil, one has to keep an eye on criminals and here on anti-social elements inimical to the country. But definitely, heading the CRPF in Jammu and Kashmir is far more challenging, especially because the CRPF is gradually taking over the internal security.

JJS: The CRPF was supposed to take control of the national highway between Jammu and Srinagar from January 15, but it hasn’t so far.

NKT: The process has begun. The Army, which was managing the highway, is training two battalions of the CPRF for the purpose. We will gradually take over. The job is not new for us. The CPRF has been providing security from Jawahar Tunnel to Srinagar. Training is required here to get acquainted with the area.

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): Being the largest paramilitary force in the world having 70,000 troops in the state, the CRPF is also faced with the problem of suicides and fratricide, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. Whether remedial measures initiated by the CRPF yielded results?

NKT: CRPF troops are among the best in the world, but yes, we faced the problem. To find remedy to it, a number of measures have been initiated. After doing requisite spade work, we felt the need of having constant interaction between middle-level officers and jawans. I have personally taken it on a priority.

After initiating remedial measures in the form of increased interaction, recreational facilities, counselling session with psychologists, meditation and liberal leave, there is a steep decline in such incidents. Besides, we have also put up a rigorous system of rotational training for one-and-a-half month where trooper relieved from his routine duty gets time to recuperate as well.

Basically, the mindset has to be changed to deal with the problem, but of course, wherever the trooper or his family is involved in a legal dispute, we do take up the matter with the local administration.

Dinesh Manhotra (DM): While fighting with militancy have you ever faced political interference?

NKT: Not at all. There is no political interference as far as war against militancy is concerned.

RKK: Is there a provision of awarding out of turn promotions to CRPF troopers who kill terrorists in the state?

NKT: Yes, we award them, but in rare cases. Usually, we avoid awarding out of turn promotions as it creates organisational problems. But it doesn’t mean that we don’t award our troopers for their exceptional services. In the CRPF, we have cash rewards, gallantry awards and DG’s disc and commendation letters to keep up their morale.

Archit Watts (AW): At this time, the CRPF is working in more than half of the states in the country while CRPF means Central Reserve Police Force. How is it a reserve force then?

NKT: Don’t go by the name. Go by the work done by the force and its reputation. In 1939, when this force was created its name was Crown Reserve Police and after the Independence, the name was changed to the Central Reserve Police Force. It is reserve only by name not by work or its nature.

RKK: The CRPF continues to occupy public infrastructure in the state, including schools, hospitals, colleges, lands and orchards. Is there any move to vacate it in the near future?

NKT: It is the sole responsibility of the state government to provide accommodation to the CRPF troopers and whatever is provided to us we take it. We are not in the public infrastructure by our own choice. However, in consultation with the government, we are now gradually in the process of vacating hospitals and schools. Since the CRPF has to stay here for a long, several acres of land is being acquired in Koota, Udhampur, near Kot Bhalwal, and other such lands being identified by the government so that CRPF troops could be located there permanently.

In Srinagar, we recently vacated public land and orchards, but still our troopers continue to occupy 20 schools and six small hospitals in the state.

RKK: What is your reaction to much-talked about surrender policy which Union Home Minister P Chidambaram is willing to implement?

NKT: Any method that reduces the number of militants and is a step towards normalcy is welcomed. Those who at one stage had gone astray and now want to join the mainstream should be given an opportunity. There is no harm in doing so. We have come across instances where youths who had picked up guns are now repenting and want to come back.

RKK: But who will guarantee that youths returning from PoK were domicile of the state. Under the garb of being domiciles of the state foreign mercenaries can also enter?

NKT: In such initiatives, some amount of risk is always there, but at the same time, modalities are yet to be worked out. Moreover, who knows what would be the reaction of Pakistan. As of now it’s just an idea.

DM: Don’t you think that without a complete intelligence network and a full-fledged intelligence wing, the CRPF would not be in a position to effectively launch anti-militancy operation?

NKT: I do agree that without a complete intelligence network, it is difficult to get feedback. After deployment of the CRPF in anti-militancy operations, we have been gradually inculcating our own sources among civilians. Secondly, the CRPF is gradually developing its intelligence wing also. It will take some time and for the time being, we have been taking services of intelligence wing of other forces. The intelligence wing of the local police is also sharing information with us.

DM: It is generally observed that CRPF men who were earlier deployed in the militancy plagued areas find it difficult to adjust themselves in the peaceful areas. Their behaviour does not change so there are complaints of misbehave by jawans. How do you deal with such a problem?

NKT: We have formulated a policy to permanently deploy companies. Those deployed in the militancy plagued areas would not be shifted to the peaceful areas. After permanently deployment, there would be change in the behaviour of the jawans.

Ashutosh Sharma: Do you exercise divergent approaches while tackling Naxalism and militancy in J&K?

NKT: Combating Naxalism is altogether a new assignment for us. Naxalites operate from deep forests and it’s a kind of jungle warfare with them. Then, Naxalites have been raising issues which are very dear to tribal and therefore, they enjoy local support also. The job of the CRPF in the Naxal-infested areas is to reinforce the authority of the government there. But the case in the J&K is completely different and therefore, we have a different approach here.

Sunaina Kaul: The security forces in the state are often accused of human rights violation and killing of civilians. How do you balance between dealing with unruly situations and observance of civil liberties of the people?

NKT: There is not a single human rights case against the CRPF. That speaks for itself about us. Moreover, as many as 1,500 CRPF men have got injured in stone pelting or other terrorism related incidents, yet we have never vent ire on civilians.

SK: BSF has inducted women battalions. When will we have CRPF women battalion here?

NKT: There are three companies of women in the Kashmir valley doing the duty of airport security. Besides, some women cops are posted in Jammu also mainly at railway station and airport. There is, however, a need to post more women companies in Jammu.

Jammu, February 19
Sitni water filtration plant supplies potable water to half of the Jammu city, but people of Sher-e-Kashmir colony, which is situated adjacent to the plant, are deprived of potable water. They get water supply only once a day which is not sufficient to cater to their needs.

Around 700 families, including 300 BPL, are living in this colony which was established in 1976 by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheik Mohammad Abdullah, grandfather of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

The only pump used for supplying water in this colony once in a day usually remains defunct, which forces people to fetch polluted water from the Tawi for drinking purposes due to which their children remain ill and vulnerable to waterborne diseases.

“Water pipes were laid in the colony by the Public Health Engineering Department in 2003 after many representations by residents,” said Mohammad Ameen, naib sarpanch of the colony.

Around 250 water connections have been provided with one tap connection for three families, he claimed.

“Our families are big. We have joint families of four or five brothers but we have small capacity utensils in which we store potable water. We do not have big water drums,” said Khurshid Begum, a resident of the colony.

She added, “Sometimes we have to fetch water from the river which is polluted”. The residents demanded that one more water pump should be installed so that at least two-time water supply could be ensured.

Expressing resentment against the municipal corporation, the residents alleged that despite being located within 6 km of the city, they had been left out of municipal jurisdiction where as Tawi Vihar, which is situated around 10 km away from city had been brought under its jurisdiction.

The condition of lanes and drains of the colony is also pitiable. People also expressed resentment against the MC for neglecting their locality in all respects, including sewerage and sanitation.

There is also no facility of toilets in the colony. People have to respond to their natural calls by rushing to the nearby forest.

The residents also expressed resentment against the MLA of their area, Jugal Kishore, a BJP leader. They alleged that the MLA had never paid a visit to the colony.

Leh, February 19
Khardongla pass, which connects Nubra subdivision of Leh district, is the only road link for defence personnel posted at Siachen glaciers. Since it is prone to avalanche and snow storms, it remains blocked in winter months cutting off the Nubra valley from the district headquarters.

However, during the tourist season in summer, Khardongla pass is famous among tourists for its world’s highest motorable road at 18,380 ft.

Tsewang Rigzin, Nubra district councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, says, “When the pass is open for traffic, there is always a danger of avalanche causing loss to human life and property.”

Khardongla is a single-lane road with narrow stretches. The authorities allow traffic on the Khardong road only for one way fixing a particular day for Leh and Nubra passengers.

To maintain the road, it costs Rs 75 lakh in summer and Rs 1.25 crore in winter to the Himank authority of the Border Road Organisation.

In view of the importance of this road from the strategic point of view as well as the road being the only lifeline for people of the Nubra valley, the LAHDC has been proposing multipurpose tunnel through Kharodongla pass for smooth traffic and diversion of glacier melted water from Nubra side to Leh town which faces scarcity of water.

The Geological Survey of India and the NHPC have carried a survey on the feasibility of the tunnel in 2004 and 2009, respectively. The GSI director has written in a report, “It is feasible to divert water through a 1 km tunnel in Ladakh range below a rock cover of about 370 m…. Granitoid rock is the main rock on both sides of Khardongla Pass. The rock is hard, massive, widely spaced jointed and very competent. It forms good tunneling media.”

Tsering Dorjey, chief executive councillor of the LAHDC, says, “The reports of the survey have been encouraging. Apart from tunneling for traffic moment, the survey also found feasibility of mini-hydel projects and diversion of glacier melted water.”

Dorjey says the NHPC concluded the survey by proposing two options of tunneling, 750 m and 3,500 m long. The LAHDC has taken up the proposal with the authorities.”

Rigzin adds representatives of Nubra have been approaching the Central government for the approval of the project and financial support.

Srinagar, February 19
A number of road projects in the summer capital, which have been faced with hiccups due to various reasons, including a shortage of funds or removal of structures on either side, continue to remain unaccomplished even after more than five years. These include the 11-km-long Dalgate-Zakoor road, known as Mirakshah road, 10.5 km-long Khanyar-Zakoora-Pandach road and the flyover over the bypass at Hyderpora crossing.

As part of the widening project of the 5-km-long road from Batamaloo to Dalgate where the Mirakshah road shoots off, work has been apace for the past several months. The slow pace of work on the three major road projects has been creating problems for the people, mainly traffic congestion, as there is little space left for smooth flow of increasing traffic.

Minister for Roads and Bridges GM Saroori last week reviewed the pace of work on various ongoing development projects in various parts of the valley. He was informed that 362.54 km of roads had been macadamised at a cost of Rs 63.43 crore under the Central Road Fund (CRF) during the past one year. It was stated that the Dalgate-Budshah-Batamaloo road widening was in progress at a cost of Rs 10.64 crore. The minister was assured that the work would be completed within a stipulated time. The minister was also apprised about the status of Syed Mirakshah road and Khanyar-Zadibal-Pandach road.

The minister directed the authorities concerned to identify accident-prone crossings in Srinagar city so that these could be redesigned to avoid accidents. Saroori also discussed widening of the HMT-Narbal road.

On his visit to Lal Bazar the minister inspected the road where the NBCC has taken up upgradation work of the road. He instructed the agency to complete the work fast so that pilgrims coming from various parts of the valley did not confront any traffic problem and could offer prayers in time at the Hazratbal shrine.

Jammu, February 19
“Donate blood, save a life” and “We can’t get blood from a stone. Please give us a little of yours”. These are the slogans written in English language at the blood bank of the Government SMGS Hospital.

While voluntary blood donation still remains low in the winter capital, slogans and posters carrying caricatures at one of the busiest blood banks certainly attract philanthropists, but only educated ones.

Reason, they are written in English language only with no emphasis on putting the information in Hindi and other local languages.

A closer peep into the functioning of the blood bank at the Government SMGS Hospital, which is predominantly a gynae and paediatrics hospital, speaks volumes about the indifferent attitude of the authorities.

Being a blood bank that functions 24 hours a day and frequented by semiliterate and illiterate people from the remote areas, the information should have been written in Hindi, Urdu, Dogri and Kashmiri languages, but the authorities didn’t find it fit and the information has been written in English language only, says a technician. To make things worse, the overburdened blood bank, which has 12 technicians and five nursing orderlies, has no counselling counter.

“They (visitors, attendants and patients) come to us with numerous queries and handling them is not our job,” he says.

The technician says the government had a plan to arm the existing blood banks with counselling centres. “Had it happened, it would have been a great advantage for us to work in a hassle-free manner,” he says, adding that the counselling counters would have been a boon for visitors as well.

“Though we understand their situation, often some attendants enter into arguments with us and create difficulties,” says the technician.

Official sources say the blood bank on an average gets 800 to 900 units of blood in a month via replacement (donated by donors arranged by attendants of patients) while 700 to 750 units are issued every month.

However, voluntary blood donation still remains low. “Only four to five donors come to us every month expressing their desire to donate blood,” they say.

The sources also say there is a problem of professional donors in the hospital. “We do ask for donors against every blood unit issued to the patients, but it doesn’t mean that in case they fail to produce donors we don’t issue them blood,” they say.

The blood bank also caters to over 150 children suffering from thalassaemia registered with the hospital. “We have to administer blood to them almost on a daily basis at the daycare unit and hence people and the health authorities should understand the importance of donating blood but it could be possible only via effective awareness,” they add.