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Mufti asks parties to back PM’s initiative
Conducive atmosphere must for students: CM
Leading life with extraordinary resolve
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Varsity to hold science camp
Landmine blasts create panic
Naz tells Gujjars to unite
Protest against poor traffic
management
On mission to educate women
BJP alleges irregularities in depts’ working
CRPF holds de-addiction camp
Kashmiri Pandits seek rehabilitation
Civic elections by mid-May: Dy CM Minister lays stone of dockyard APHC for meaningful dialogue process Two arrested, grenades seized
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Mufti asks parties to back PM’s initiative
“Friendship and cordial relations with Pakistan are inevitable for sustainable peace, growth and progress in this subcontinent.So, it is the need of the hour that all political parties should endorse peace initiatives taken by the Prime Minister for improving relations with Pakistan,” the Mufti said while addressing a public meeting here. It was organised by Chatter Singh Saini, a Congress leader who recently joined the PDP along with his supporters. “The Parliament’s endorsement of peace moves could put the desired pace and power into the process of developing cordial relations with our neighbour. Different parties in Parliament must rise above partisan interests as they do in matters of common concern to lend the peace process a national character,” he observed. He said India was no doubt emerging as an economic power, but a large number of people lacked even the minimum basic amenities. “I feel their share of resources goes unnecessarily into the overburdened defence set-up, and it could be drastically reduced by sorting out issues amicably with neighbours,” he added. Cautioning against hawkish approach of some groups and shrill rhetoric of some leaders, the Mufti said peace with Pakistan was very much in the interest of the nation. He especially mentioned the statement of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who had stated: “We can change our friends but not our neighbours.”
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Conducive atmosphere must for students: CM
Srinagar, March 7 Addressing a function held at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in connection with the release of Municipal Souvenir and Corporator’s proceedings 2005-10, here yesterday, the Chief Minister said a conducive atmosphere was necessary for the student community to secure their academic career. He said: “It is the world of competition and every citizen had to play a role for providing better education to the new generation and discourage those elements whose activities vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state.” Referring to the Municipal elections, the Chief Minister said the elections to the civic bodies was not the ultimate end, but the Corporators after the elections had to work for providing basic amenities to the people. He said unless the corporations were not strengthened financially, these could not come to the expectations of the people. Omar urged the people to contribute in this respect as the corporations provide sanitation and other civic amenities at their doorsteps.
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Leading life with extraordinary resolve
Udhampur, March 7 “Those words kept nudging my self-respect and I saw to it that all my three children got Masters in English. Let me tell you my positive attitude has made me withstand hardship of life and the biggest of all were losing my husband 17 years ago and 33-year- old son seven years ago,” she said turning pages of life gone by so far in a manner only people born with a gift of extraordinary resolve can. A living inspiration indeed for those who might have given up in the face of odds which she overcame. She has survived three heart attacks so far. On a permanent pacemaker; she survived a serious attack of bell palsy as well 12 years ago. As if this was not enough, a kidney problem preceded that. An almost fatal fall 25 feet off the hill road on way to Kukarnag, Srinagar, about a quarter century back, she sustained spinal injury, fracture in leg now manifested in difficulty in walking. This gritty old woman now lives all by herself in Ustad Mohalla, Jammu, since sudden demise of her son in the same month he was married in 2003. Her two married daughters are settled in Delhi and Dubai. Besides a few hours company of a maid, a son-like PSO Rajesh Khajuria (25) takes her in car to various government offices to settle matters related to huge ancestral properties in Jammu and outside. Ask her what keeps her going. “I can’t say exactly what, but I have stopped thinking I am alone, suffer from any ailment or that my daughters are far away. Let me tell you honestly that at my age telephone calls cannot compensate physical presence of your loved ones. When I go to bed at night, I simply lay back and pray to God that he should not leave her,” said this woman with unwavering faith in the Will of Almighty. She is not bitter with God either. Her strength emanates from self-motivation and self-belief as hard as stone. “I look positively at misfortunes that befell me. I don’t cry before others. I even give tough speak to my memories of my lost son. Whenever his thoughts overwhelm me, I simply stand before his photograph and admonish him not to come in my thoughts for doing so I become weak,” she said. But this does not mean motherly love has dried up. She is getting a temple built in his memory on the outskirts of Jammu as he was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Physical constraints becoming all the more telling in this old age, mental toughness is seeing her through. No more active in politics, but helping around 25 youth get jobs, including her PSO, has given her immense satisfaction. She has been vice-president of the state Congress unit, besides a stint as secretary of the state Red Cross Society. Right now, she is the chairperson of the state TB Association. Being a trustee of Durga Nag Mandir, Srinagar, she is visiting it this month on auspicious occasion of Ashtami. Days after recent heart attack!
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Varsity to hold science camp
Udhampur, March 7 The camp is part of the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), Science Internship Camp, being sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. Its organising coordinator, Dr Sunil Kumar Wanchoo, informed that the camp would be held from April 19 to 23 on the university campus. The basic objective of the INSPIRE camp is to communicate to the young attendees the excitement of creative pursuits of science and attract talent to the study of science at an early stage and build the required critical human resource pool for strengthening and expanding science and technology system in the R&D base. Under the scheme, this will be the first such camp to be organised by the SMVDU. Wanchoo added that the camp was meant for the top one per cent performers in class X board examination, and who were at present pursuing science stream in classes XI and XII. All students will be hosted on the university campus. They would get an opportunity to interact with fellows of various science academies, awardees and scientists of national and international repute through lectures and interactive sessions.
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Landmine blasts create panic
Jammu, March 7 Sources say 10 to 15 per cent of the landmines, which were planted in the fields during Operation Parakram are still untraceable and creating fear among farmers. A number of times, the security forces have said that the fields have been cleared or demined, but the recent landmine blasts have raised questions over the claims. A BSF DIG , O P Tanwar, was killed on November 16 last year when an IED exploded in the Ramgarh sector in Samba district. Late on Saturday night, a landmine exploded in the border belt of the Londi-Bobiyan area near the Indo-Pak border in Kathua district. The explosion was so powerful that the villagers came out of their houses and took shelter in safer places. However, there was no loss of life or property, the police said. After some time, there was another landmine explosion near the Bardal area on the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor when a cow stepped over it late last night, the police said. The landmines have led to many deaths and injured several animals and humans.The |
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Naz tells Gujjars to unite
Jammu, March 7 He was speaking at a function organised by the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, a frontal organisation, which was attended by a large number of community members from different parts of the state. Naz further said the socio-cultural and educational development of the Gujjars and the Bakerwals could not be possible without the active participation of the tribal civil society. He impressed upon the educated sect of the Gujjar society to guide him so that the board could play a significant role to uplift the tribal society, especially Gujjars. He added that he would visit Poonch and Rajouri districts during the next week to invite suggestions to improvise his Department of Gujjar Affairs. Javid Rahi, secretary, Tribal Foundation, said the Gujjars of the state were struggling hard for their existence as a separate identity since partition and achieved substantial targets and “this is the right time to give a new direction to our tribal movement”.
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Protest against poor traffic
management
Jammu, March 7 According to a statement issued here, JWAM president Sunil Dimple warned the state government that people would go on a indefinite fast, if the authorities failed to improve the traffic scenario. Dimple demanded the construction of an alternative four-lanned circular road from Amphalla to Janipur and more flyovers in the city to minimise the traffic chaos. |
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On mission to educate women
Teergam-Sumbal, March 7 A few years ago, the Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS) in its endeavour to form self-help groups (SHG) for the empowerment of women in certain villages in Baramulla and Bandipora districts took an initiative to teach SHG members numericals and to put their signatures. “As they had to engage in dealings with commercial institutions and other groups, we thought of teaching them to put signatures,” said Nageena Bano, a local organiser of the IGSSS. “When we joined the group, we had no idea about banks and other dealings.We used to feel uncomfortable while putting our thumb impressions. This is a modern era and we should at least know how to put our signatures. So, all of us learnt it,” said middle-aged Nafeesa. Nafeesa had never been to school. Her parents did not find it important to send their children, especially daughters, to educational institutions. Poverty at home, lack of awareness about education, large family size, different attitude towards girls were some of the reasons that women like her could not study. But things are changing. “Our parents did not send us to school, but we are sending our daughters to school so that their children do not laugh at them the way they laugh at my signature”. Shakeela Akther, group leader of Gulshan Self-Help Group (SHG), in the same village, said the members had learnt to put their signatures. Most of them put their signatures in English as they find Urdu a tough language. However, most of SHG members cannot read the alphabets. They have simply crammed their signatures. Shakeela, mother of three children said, “earlier, we were shy. After learning to put signatures, now we approach the bank with confidence”. “We take out time from our daily schedule because we want to acquire more knowledge,” said Zareefa Bano, a member of Aman SHG, in the adjacent village.
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BJP alleges irregularities in depts’ working
Jammu, March 7 Addressing a press conference, BJP state secretary Sunil Sharma came down heavily on the state government which according to him, had failed to solve the problems of the common man in the far-flung areas despite tall claims and hollow slogans by the ruling party. Sharma said Kishtwar and some of its adjoining areas were suffering due to the callous attitude and corrupt practices of some government officials which was adversely affecting the development of the area. The Rural Development Department, Kishtwar, in particular, he said, had become a puppet in the hands of the ruling party and was ignoring the genuine and legal rights of the minority community. He alleged that crores of rupees released under Central-sponsored schemes had been swindled by the department in Kishtwar, particularly under the Indira Awas Yojna (IAY) and NREGA. "The central government schemes have become a sort of self-acquired property of the local officers concerned and leaders of the ruling party”, he alleged. Sharma further criticised the government for ignoring the health sector, which was in a shambles in the district. The district hospital, Kishtwar, he said, was a glaring example of mismanagement. |
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CRPF holds de-addiction camp
Jammu, March 7 Raj Kumar Dagar, Commandant of the 160 Battalion of the CRPF, informed the youths about the drug-related diseases as well as about the aim of this programme. Under this, 29 personnel of Ramban district were admitted and motivated to get rid of drug abuse. The persons admitted during the programme had undergone various medical as well as psychological tests. The programme was supported by the
district administration, Ramban, and someNGOs like the Ramban Sewa Sansthan, Chenab Youth Club,
Ramban,and the Alcoholics Anonymous Group, New Delhi, who helped a lot by informing people in the remote area of Ramban about it. |
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Kashmiri Pandits seek rehabilitation
Chandigarh, March 7 “Today, Kashmir is without the Pandits and with a very little prospect of going back to the valley in near future under the shadow of gun, it is imperative for the government to politically rehabilitate us,” AIKS president Moti Koul said addressing a press conference here. He said adequate political space for Kashmiri Pandits in legislative institutions and civic bodies in the state should be given by the government, “which will facilitate their return to the native land.”Elaborating further, he said there were many ways for providing this space, including nominations, in legislative and civic bodies as has been the practice for certain people in the north-eastern region of the country. Koul said another way could be consensus among political parties for reservation of Kashmiri Pandit candidates in certain constituencies to enable them to find representation in the democratic institutions. “Nearly four lakh Pandits were uprooted from the valley 20 years back with the onset of militancy. Conditions are still not favourable for our return, although every single member of the community is dying to return as early as possible,” he said after chairing a meeting of the displaced Pandits, who were currently living in the tricity of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali. Endorsing the demand of president of the Kashmiri Sahayak Sabha, Chandigarh AK Nehru, Koul said the Pandits should be granted the status of “minority community”. To a question, Koul said that nearly 2,400 temples and other Hindu shrines had been partially or completely damaged in Kashmir during the past two decades and alleged that the Government was doing nothing about this. |
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Civic elections by mid-May: Dy CM Srinagar, March 7 He was talking to mediapersons after a high-level meeting of officers of the Housing and Urban Development, Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) and the local bodies here yesterday. He urged the authorities concerned to complete all ongoing works within scheduled time. He said strict action would be initiated against those violating the Master Plan norms, and said any officer found guilty in this connection would also be dealt under rules. While reviewing the development works, the Deputy Chief Minister was informed that 95 per cent works had been completed by the SMC and assured that rest would be completed within the stipulated period. Regarding SDA works, the vice-chairman said a shop line near the General Bus Stand was going apace at a cost of Rs 1.40 crore, while the Sangermal Complex was ready costing Rs 1481.70 lakh. It was also told that 4,200 kannals of land has been identified at Gund Raksha for developing it as a satellite town. In addition, Rs 5.40 crore have been incurred so far on the construction of the Bemina Habitat
Centre.
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Minister lays stone of dockyard Srinagar, March 7 Speaking on the occasion, the minister said the government was taking all steps to boost the tourism industry and efforts were being made to bring more and more tourists to the valley so that the economy of the state could be strengthened and unemployed youth could benefit. Jora said the state Tourism Ministry had interacted with the national and international tour operators and conducted roadshows in various states to make the tourist season successful. In his address, Minister of State for Tourism Nasir Aslam Wani said the house boats of Kashmir located in the Dal and Nigeen lakes were famous worldwide and the owners should take steps in preserving the beauty of these water bodies.
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APHC for meaningful dialogue process Srinagar, March 7 This was resolved at a day-long seminar held by the Mirwaiz-led faction of the APHC at the party headquarters presided over by acting chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat here today. Other senior leaders, including Bilal Ghani Lone and Masroor Abbas Ansari and representatives of the constituent groups also participated in the seminar. Stressing the need for meaningful and result-oriented dialogue process between India and Pakistan, it was resolved that the resolution of Kashmir issue was necessary for friendship between two neighbouring countries and for peace in South Asia. It was also resolved that the involvement of the sentiments and aspirations of the people of the state was necessary to find a solution of the problem. The seminar on Present Situation and our Responsibilities also sought an end to the alleged human rights violations at the hands of the security forces, release of those detained and steps to ensure the creation of a conducive atmosphere for the dialogue process. In his address, acting chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat stressed the need for involvement of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in any dialogue process to resolve the Kashmir issue. He said there was no other alternative than to have talks with Pakistan for a final settlement of the issue.
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Two arrested, grenades seized
Srinagar, March 7 The police intercepted a car in Batpora last evening and seized the hand grenades from the vehicle, the spokesperson said, adding jawans of the 156 Battalion, CRPF, assisted in the operation. Bilal Ahmad Dar, a resident of Chattarhama, and Muolphak, a resident of Mohammad Sultan Rather, were arrested, he said. A case has been registered in the Zakura police station in this connection, he said. — PTI
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Prem Lata Bakshi (65) recalled without a trace of bitterness her late husband’s comments after their marriage in 1964 that she did not know ‘alpha beta’ of English. She reacted positively and passed Class X afterwards. She went on to do BA English (honours) and became a teacher in a government school near Jammu. However, she had to quit on her husband’s insistence when transferred.
Arnia (Bishnah), March 7