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Govt staff go on 5-day strike
Reduce Assembly term to 5 years: Harsh Dev
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SPOs, VDC members feel ignored
Gritty poor youth sets example for others
Gujjars, Bakarwals demand mobile schools, dispensaries
UPA govt failed to contain price rise: BJP
UT Status
Walli’s paintings on display
Intrusion bid in Ramgarh sector
2-point rake system sought
Malfunctioning in PSC Mufti visits
Anantnag, told about power crisis 8 black marketeers arrested
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Govt staff go on 5-day strike
Jammu, March 9 The state government employees have been demanding the benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission, including arrears since January 1, 2006, release of cost of living allowance (COLA), enhancing retirement age from 58 to 60 years and the regularisation of services of daily wage workers and contractual employees. Health care services in various hospitals in the winter capital, including the Government Medical College and Hospital, were partially affected. Out patient departments (OPDs) did not function, causing hardships to patients. Hundreds of patients and their attendants from remote places had to face a tough time because of the strike. However, emergency services in all hospitals were exempted from the purview of the strike. Similarly, employees of the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department, Power Development Department (PDD), Public Works Department (PWD), Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Drainage, Roads and Buildings Department by and large stayed away from work. The JCC, a conglomerate of several employees’ unions, had rejected an offer of the government to start another round of parleys to resolve the impasse. Hundreds of employees from different government departments held a protest at Town Hall here. It may be stated here that parleys between the government and the employees’ representatives in the past few days had failed to break the ice. However, employees at the Civil Secretariat attended office and did not participate in the strike. Meanwhile, JCC provincial president Jaswant Singh accused the government of turning a Nelson’s eye towards the genuine issues of the striking employees. “The government so far has failed to honour its own decision following an agreement between the JCC and a Cabinet subcommittee on February 18 and August 19 last year,” said Jaswant. Had there been a financial crunch, a reason cited before us for not releasing the arrears, how the government could have hiked the salaries of ministers and legislators, he asked. Abdul Qayoom Wani, another JCC leader, charged the government with not comprehending the seriousness of the issue. If the government kept on treating the employees like this, we would be forced to go on an indefinite strike, he said. It may be stated here that the government had approached the JCC leaders through two senior bureaucrats Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and Basharat Ahmed Dar. Meanwhile, another faction of employees, Employees’ Joint Action Committee (EJAC), has given a three-day statewide strike call from March 11.
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Reduce Assembly term to 5 years: Harsh Dev
Jammu, March 9 Panthers Party working president Harsh Dev Singh expressed surprise that the government had dissolved local bodies after five years, but no decision had been taken on the Assembly, the term of which is six years. Harsh Dev had earlier moved a resolution in the Assembly to curtail the tenure of the Assembly from six years to five years, but the same was rejected by political groups. Harsh Dev had castigated the government for its double standards with regard to the duration of various democratic institutions in the state. He said whereas the term of MLAs had been fixed at six years, other democratic institutions like panchayats and local bodies, which comprised municipal corporations, councils and municipal committees, were dissolved after five years. He said different yardsticks for different democratic institutions were highly capricious, whimsical and defied all logic and rationale. Demanding a uniform term for all democratic institutions in the state, Harsh Dev said any bias or preferential treatment to the Assembly with prejudice against other institutions was highly unjust, and opposed to the spirit of democracy. He further said it was peculiar to the state where the term of the Legislative Assembly was six years as against five years’ term of the Legislative Assembly in all other states. He said the anomalous situation provided the most glaring instance of abuse of the special status, special powers, and separate constitution, which the state possessed. Calling for a debate on the issue, Harsh Dev said he had moved a bill on the subject in the Assembly seeking a five-year term for the state Assembly. He said developed nations like the USA had even a lesser term of four years. Favouring a five-year term as an ideal duration, he, however, said even the constitution’s framers had suggested a five-year period. Harsh Dev said the increase in duration of the Assembly from five to six years in mid seventies lacked public sanction and was also opposed to the basic tenets of the constitution and constitutional propriety. |
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SPOs, VDC members feel ignored
Jammu, March 9 After the claims of Ashok Gupta, IG, Jammu zone, that two major militant outfits had been wiped out from the region, the SPOs and VDC members sought due recognition from the government of their major role in eliminating militant outfits from the region. The SPOs and VDC members had killed a large number of militants in the two decade-long fight against militancy in the state. A senior police officer told The Tribune that the VDCs were especially constituted to fight militancy, because these villagers were brave enough to take on militants and knew the region well. Despite knowing the fact, the security forces forgot to felicitate these unsung heroes and gave all credit to the police, paramilitary forces and the Army for gunning down the militants. “We are being given a step motherly treatment by the state government. We have played an active role in bringing peace in the state. Even senior security officers have admitted to the fact, but whenever the matter comes to giving credit, these officers give it to their jawans or battalions,” said an SPO from Kishtwar, who had killed three militants, while showing commendation certificates on the outskirts of the city. He added, “The security forces claimed that they have gunned down a number of militants. But without the assistance of the SPOs and the VDC members, it would have been difficult for them to fight militancy in the region.” “Everyone knows the SPOs and the VDC members have killed a number of militants, but no one takes note of our plight. Still we have not received any credit for our efforts,” asked another SPO from the Doda area. However, Gupta said, “This is true that the SPOs and the VDC members have played an important role in fighting the militancy. We are preparing a list of those who have played important role or have made sacrifices in this war against militancy.” |
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Gritty poor youth sets example for others
Udhampur, March 9 As a befitting acknowledgement of his hard work, he was given the prestigious ‘Harvest of Hope’ award by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar at a glittering function held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on February 26, 2010, for the successful commercial cultivation of button mushroom. This modest progressive farmer owes his success to Mushroom Development Officer (MDO), Udhampur, Sunil Kumar Gandotra, who guided him on the path of success. The success story of this determined farmer started in 2001. His family lived hand-to-mouth by cultivating 10 acres of agricultural land that generated an annual income of merely Rs 15,000. Kunj Lal could foresee a bright future after getting a month-long technical training at a workshop organised by the Mushroom Development Cell of the state Agriculture Department at Udhampur, 28 km from his village. Facing lack of funds, Kunj Lal borrowed Rs 4,000 from relatives and started cultivation of mushroom in one of the two room houses. Three months later, his hard work bore fruit and sold the first yield of five quintals for Rs 35,000 at the vegetable market at Udhampur. The fact that this amount was equal to what his father used to earn from traditional farming in two years, made him all the more determined. Last year, the earnings rose to Rs 1.20 lakh. Encouraged by this, he also started growing dhingri mushroom, ginger and colocosia. It fetched him additional income of Rs 60,000 last year. But the success and turn in financial status has not gone to his head. “I draw immense satisfaction from the fact that I am able to ensure education to my three younger siblings,” Kunj Lal said. His sister is studying in class X, while two younger brothers are in class VIII. All lend a helping hand to him in cultivation as well. He got four additional rooms added to his two-room house with his income. Kunj Lal did not buy a bike, which most youth of his age fancy, because there is no road connectivity to his village. “I have set a target of producing 50 quintals of mushroom this year. At the same time, I wish to train other unemployed youths of my backward area so that they may also improve their economic lot,” he added. |
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Gujjars, Bakarwals demand mobile schools, dispensaries
Udhampur, March 9 Vice-chairman of the Gujjar and Bakarwal Advisory Board Chaudhary Bashir Ahmed Naaz and chairman of the Gujjar and Bakarwal Conference and social activist Shakeel Ahmed Shah were among the prominent speakers. In the presence of Minister of State Aijaz Ahmed Khan, who presided over the conference, the speakers said mobile schools and dispensaries meant for this nomadic population were inadequate and demanded sufficient stock of medicines. Other demands included the inclusion of Gojri in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, augmentation of drinking water and power supply, allotment of plots, inclusion in BPL lists and voter lists, increase in rates of milk and its allied products, including wool in accordance with rise in the price index, reservation at various levels of the Panchayati Raj institutions and the state Assembly. Maintaining his government’s commitment to the welfare of both communities, the minister asked the Assistant Commissioner (Development) to strengthen infrastructure and other basic facilities in the areas inhabited by both communities, which had been included in the Scheduled Tribes. On part of the government, he highlighted that the size of the Scheduled Tribes Plan had already been doubled. He informed that Udhampur district component of this centrally sponsored plan had been hiked to Rs 56 lakh and a provision had also been made for another Rs 44 lakh for providing different facilities for both communities. |
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UPA govt failed to contain price rise: BJP
Jammu, March 9 Gupta said even items like wheat, rice, sugar, oils etc., which were within the reach of a common man, had now gone beyond his reach. He added that if this trend continued, the day was not far when it would be difficult for a middle class person to survive, leave aside poor people. He said the BJP also ruled the country for six years, but there was no unwarranted rise in prices. The BJP leader said the party had launched a nationwide signature campaign to educate people about the anti-poor policies of the Congress-led UPA and the party was getting a very positive response. “Our party leaders and activists are organising such campaigns in different parts of the state, like other parts of the country, and a target of 10 lakh signatures has been fixed from the state,” he said. |
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UT Status
Leh, March 9 The committee was named the All Religious-Political Action Committee on Union Territory Status for Ladakh during a meeting held yesterday. The joint meeting of religious organisations and political parties on the UT status issue was held for the second time in a row after Justice Sagir Ahmad (retd) headed working group rejected the UT status demand for Ladakh. Spokesman for the District Congress Committee, Leh, Tsewang Rigzin, who attended the meeting, said, “Both religious organisations and political parties have condemned the recent statement of MP Hassan Khan opposing the demand of the UT status.” The meetings was attended by representatives of the Congress, BJP, BSP, PDP, LUTF and religious organisations, including the Ladakh Gonpa Association, Ladakh Anjuman Imamia (Shia Muslim), Ladakh Anjuman Moin-ul- Islam (Sunni Muslim) and the Ladakh Christian Association. |
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Walli’s paintings on display
Jammu, March 9 “The untimely death of his father left a deep impact on Dr Walli. Right from his childhood, he evinced great promise for drawings. Walli’s love for nature and his deep observation of human emotions and deprivations also found an expression in poetry,” he said. Noted art critic, Ravinder Kaul believes that Almast Kashmiri was truly a gifted person and bestowed with enormous talent. “There may be many who know about his two artistic traits, art and poetry, however, hardly any one knows about his another attribute that he had been an ardent lover of good music, classical as well as light-classical,” he said. “Those who had the opportunity to attended mushairas in which he participated, know that he used to sing his self-composed poems in taranum,” he added. According to him, “Almast -- the carefree--, thus, was a unique combination of an artist, a poet and a musician. “What better attribute for an artist than to scale such great heights in his artistic talent as to his paintings decorating the thousands of drawing rooms in different continents of the world even today,” he said. In 2005, he developed a low pulse rate due to health problems and finally breathed his last on January 10, 2006, at Karnal in Haryana. He is survived by a son and three daughters. |
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Intrusion bid in Ramgarh sector
Jammu, March 9 “After suspected militants opened fire around 11 pm yesterday, BSF troops retaliated forcing them to flee back to Pakistan,” DIG, BSF, Jammu Frontier, JB Sangwan told The Tribune. Around 11 pm yesterday, BSF troops noticed some persons moving suspiciously along the border near the Basanter river at the Maluchak outpost of the Ramgarh sector, he said, adding that when challenged the group, suspected to be comprising Pakistani ultras, opened fire. Our jawans retaliated and the suspected militants fled back to Pakistan, said Sangwan. There was no IED explosion, he responded to a query. However, he said it was the same area near the Ballard outpost where in the recent times BSF DIG OP Tanwar was killed in an IED explosion. Official sources said soon after the incident Sangwan and other senior officers rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. A search operation was launched in the area soon after the incident. |
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2-point rake system sought
Jammu, March 9 In a message to the general manager of Northern Railways, the chamber demanded that this system should be implemented at Udhampur as it would mitigate inconvenience caused to contractors and also help in generating revenue for the Railways. The chamber also drew the attention of the general manager towards the prevailing conditions at the Jammu railway station and demanded the construction of an additional platform to cope up with passengers’ rush. |
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Malfunctioning in PSC
Jammu, March 9 Addressing the protesters, Sharma alleged that in the selection list of the lecturers, preference had been given to the candidates from the Kashmir region. He also alleged that besides selecting more candidates from the Kashmir valley, there were reports of corruption and nepotism in the selection process. Criticising the Jammu-based MLAs, Sharma said these MLAs had failed to raise the issue of discrimination against Jammu youths in the PSC selection lists in the
Assembly. Meanwhile, Sharma demanded 20 points for MPhil and 30 points for PhD degree holders instead of the present three for MPhil and five for PhD in the PSC interview. He also demanded a separate PSC for Jammu so that genuine candidates could be selected. He also appealed to the Chief Minister to hold an inquiry into the selection list of lecturers of all
subjects. |
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Mufti visits
Anantnag, told about power crisis Srinagar, March 9 During his visit to Anantnag areas of south Kashmir today, the Mufti was told that the power situation had worsened and most areas of the town remained in darkness most of the time. The villages, he was informed, faced greater crisis where people were formally reverting to non-electric sources of light, a PDP spokesman said. Sharing the anxiety of the people, the Mufti wondered about the reasons that resulted in a sharp deterioration in power and ration supplies over the past year. He said power resources in the state had increased considerably since 2006 with the commissioning of the Baglihar project and Dulhasti by the NHPC. While the supply situation should have increased, it had worsened since the present government took office. The former Chief Minister lamented that the projects launched by the previous government had become a victim of deliberate neglect. On the one hand the government claimed to have received huge funds and on the other even the ongoing schemes were starved of finances, he added.
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8 black marketeers arrested Srinagar, March 9 Investigations are also in progress over the role of employees of the CAPD Department in the pilferage and black marketeering of kerosene. Acting on specific information that one kerosene tanker was being illegally unloaded at Alochibagh here on February 5, the tanker and records were seized and a case was registered. They had built extra storage capacity to dump illegally diverted kerosene for black marketeering. The diverted kerosene was dumped in these depots and subsequently sold on the black market from these illegal outlets functioning in some major bus stations of Srinagar city like Batmaloo, Panthachowk and Fruit Mandi.
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