Jammu, May 15
Use as much electricity as you like as long as you have the funds to pay for it. In a never-before move, the cash-strapped Jammu University has asked its departments to pay their own power bills and begun the process to install separate meters.

Decentralisation of payment of the university’s total electricity bill, which is roughly Rs 50 lakh for two months, is a fresh step to ask departments to contribute to resource generation. Two months ago, the state government-aided institution had fixed annual electricity charges for each department asking them to contribute to the varsity central pool. But as many departments expressed reservation over the fixed amount, which was based on the number of air conditioners installed in departments instead of those in running condition, the varsity has now decided to install electronic meters.

A department head asked to pay about Rs 80,000 yearly had in a letter to the authorities said two out of the three ACs in the department were not functional and hence power consumption could not exceed Rs 25,000. University authorities feel that once each department gets a separate meter, there would be no cribbing on the bill amount and would help prevent power wastage - after all, you pay for the power you use. The process to install meters in eight of the 37 departments has been completed.

Though there is no united opposition to the installation of electronic meters, the Jammu University Teachers Association feels the state government should not ask the varsity to generate funds. “Ours is not a business enterprise that will generate funds,” said JUTA president Prof Dalip Singh Jamwal. He said the association understood the financial pressure on the varsity but for any action on the decision, head of department would have to decide.

Says Joint Registrar Vivek Salathia, “The university’s power bill for two months works out to around Rs 50 lakh. We depend on state government for funding but of late, there is a feeling that the university needs to generate its own resources. Our only source of income is fees deposited by students or UGC and Centre-aided projects given to departments.”

Registrar PS Pathania said the varsity had a Rs 63-crore budget, which was just about enough. “We need to generate funds for new initiatives and programmes or annual increase in salaries and other routine expenses,” he said.

Will the burden of income-generation be passed on to students in the form of higher fee? Not for the time being. Joint Registrar Salathia said departments received money from UGC projects and had been asked to divert funds to an electricity bill fund.

Confirms Dean Academic Affairs RD Sharma, who heads a committee looking for means to increase income generation. “No, there won’t be any burden on the students,” he said. “We have told departments to put in an advance requisition for power consumption in each project.”

Srinagar, May 15
Beginning the enumeration process with Governor NN Vohra, the first citizen of the state, the first phase of the Census-2011 commenced from the Raj Bhavan here today.

The first phase of the Census relates to house numbering, house listing and canvassing of the National Population Register. The Governor was informed that in the inaccessible and snow-bound areas of the state, the process for both the phases would be held between August and September this year. The second phase relating to enumeration of human population would be conducted in February 2011 throughout the country.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasised the importance of the Census to build a comprehensive and dependable database for the perspective planning and holistic development. Launching the fifth Census operation in the state by filling up the data-collection form, he appealed the people to provide correct information to enumerators and surveyors and help create factual data bank for all round progress and development of the state. He also called upon them to enthusiastically participate in the process and cooperate with the census workers.

A team of the Census officers headed by Director of Census Operation of the state Farooq Ahmad called on the Governor to launch the conduct of the Census. First Lady Usha Vohra was also present on the occasion, an official spokesman said.

The Governor enquired about the training imparted to the Census staff and other arrangements made for conduct of this vital task in the state.

The Governor said the Census, which has been the essential source of the primary data at the village, town and ward level, provides valuable information for the planning and formulation of the policies by the Central and state governments.

Jammu, May 15
A government teacher, Varinder Singh (name changed) of Moghala village in Rajouri wakes up early in the morning as part of routine at 5:30 am to board a bus by 7 am for travelling 20 km to reach his school in Kalakote by 8 pm. After finishing with classes, he is drained out by 2 pm and is supposed to leave for the day.

But the usual schedule is going to change when the Census work will begin in these areas. The Directorate of Census has given him an additional assignment. He shall have to embark upon another journey visiting door-to-door for headcount of the families.

It will take him two hours of tough trekking from the school to reach the village. Before the sunset, he shall have to return to his home, which is quite opposite to the village that is assigned for the Census. The entire exercise would change the daily “to-do” list of approximately 11,000 government teachers of the Jammu province. The hectic schedule can stretch up to the point of summer vacations, likely to be declared by June 10. Those serving in the treacherous hilly areas of Rajouri, Poonch, Doda and Raban have been finding the additional task very hard.

Commenting upon the grievance of the teachers here that Census in state should have been scheduled during the impending vacations, Director Census Farooq Ahmed said, “Every enumerator has to cover 120 households on an average during this one-and-a-half month long exercise. It means that on an average, they can easily cover three households.”

Director (School Education) Zahida Khan said, “The exact number of the teachers engaged in this exercise is not known to me, as the Directorate of Census has engaged the teachers by consulting the zonal education officers at their own. Their grievance is genuine, but they are getting handsome incentives. Conducting the Census is a service to the nation, so they should not crib.”

The teachers would get a renumearation of Rs 10,000 for the work. They have to survey 150 to 200 houses each. More than 90 per cent of the government employees from the School Education Department have been roped in for the Census exercise.

Jammu, May 15
Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla said here today that a comprehensive plan had been formulated for the upgradation and expansion of Jammu Airport to provide all infrastructural facilities to the passengers.

Addressing the gatherings, after laying foundation stones of various developmental works in different areas of Gandhi Nagar Assembly segment, Bhalla assured that the coalition government would take every step for the proper rehabilitation of those whose land had been acquired for the expansion project of Jammu Airport.

He said adequate land would be provided in exchange to such families at other places for their proper rehabilitation.

He said that coalition government was making all efforts to provide all basic amenities to the people of three regions of the state.

He called upon the people to extend their cooperation in the implementation of developmental schemes as their participation was imperative for effective and need-based development.

He asked the officers to personally monitor the quality of works and sought the cooperation of the people in ensuring the completion of the ongoing development projects within the stipulated time.

Srinagar, May 15
Governor NN Vohra expressed profound grief over the demise of former Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today.

In a condolence message, the Governor recalled his long association with Shekhawat and his deep understanding of national issues, particularly matters relating to national security management.

The Governor expressed sympathy with the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.

Jammu: A condolence meeting was held today at the BJP headquarters in Jammu to condole the demise of veteran party leader Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

The portrait of party stalwart was garlanded and BJP state president Shamsher Singh Manhas, leader of Legislative Party Chaman Lal Gupta, member national executive Nirmal Singh, former state president Ashok Khajuria, former Mayor Kavinder Gupta and others were present.

While paying tributes to the departed soul, the BJP leaders appreciated Shekhawat for fighting against the evil practice of ‘sati pratha’.

Other prominent leaders present in the meeting included Usha Choudhary, Yudhvir Sethi, Mamta Singh, Surinder Sharma, Shilpi Verma, Balbir Ram, Parmodh Kapahi, Sakina Bano, Munish Sharma, N.D. Rajwal, Shiv Kumar Gupta, Charanjit Singh Khalsa, Vikram Randhawa, Amreek Singh, Jaideep Sharma, Karan Singh, Sanjeev Gupta, Subash Jandial, Rajinder Sharma, Parshant Puri, Praduman Singh, Arun Khosla, Anil Masoom, Adarsh Bhagat, Vipan Shastri and Kiran Salathia.

Srinagar, May 15
The Shaheed Imtiyaz Thokar Sports Stadium at Shopian was dedicated to the people of the area here on Wednesday.

The stadium is named after Shaheed Imtiyaz Thokar of 1 Para of the SF, who was killed in a gun-battle with militants in Sopore on February 23. The Commander, 12 Sector, Rashtriya Rifles, on behalf of the GOC, CIF (V), handed over the stadium to Shopian Deputy Commissioner Abdul Majid Khanday.

The function was attended by several civil and military dignitaries, including former minister and MLA Gulam Hassan Khan, Shabir Ahmed Kulley, former CPI MLC, Abdul Rehaman Tukroo and chief education officer Gulam Nabi Shafi.

Construction of the stadium started in July, 2008, and was completed in July 2009 by 44 Rashtriya Rifles (Rajput) under the aegis of the 12 Sector, Rashtriya Rifles. The stadium is built over 26.19 kanals and has a gymnasium, a VIP seating enclosure, a seating capacity of 1,500, basketball and badminton courts and an athletics track.

Jammu, May 15
Blaming coalition government for unprecedented water crises, Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today warned to launch a mass movement if authorities failed to ensure supply of potable water in the Kandi areas of the region.

Addressing a convention of the party cardholders at Billawar, PDP General Secretary Balbir Singh regretted that instead of taking some effective steps to quench thirst of the people, the government has been adopting casual approach towards miseries of the helpless people.

Singh, who has conducted extensive tour of some Kandi areas of Billawar Assembly segment, warned that the situation has been deteriorating with every passing day, as scarcity of water has emerged as the biggest problem in such areas. He said most of the natural resources have been depleted, but the authorities have not taken up any step to supply water through tankers or made any alternative arrangement.

The PDP general secretary, while pointing towards shortage of ration in the rural areas, regretted that majority of the population in the Kandi areas were at the verge of starvation due to failure of three successive crops, but the government’s announcement to provide free ration to the affected families remained only on the papers.

Jammu, May 15
Enraged over the failure of the authorities to ensure supply of drinking water, residents of Udhampur today held a demonstration and demanded action against the employees deputed at pumping station located at Jaganoo.

A large number of residents of Braraian and Roun panchayats today took out a demonstration against the failure of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department to supply drinking water in their areas during the past five days. They alleged that the employees deputed by the PHE Department at Jaganoo pumping station were responsible for water crisis in their areas. They alleged that more than 10,000 people have been facing this problem.

The villagers were satisfied only after senior officers of the PHE assured to streamline supply of water.

Srinagar, May 15
A 13-year-old student of a prestigious school in the city started taking drugs after a girl in his classroom wrote on the blackboard that she ‘likes bad boys’. The boy was lucky that his family came to know about his habit at an early stage and he was treated at a rehabilitation centre in the city. However, drug abuse in the valley has spread at an alarming rate.

“The drug abuse in Kashmir has spread like an epidemic and around 30 to 40 per cent of youths here are addicted to some kind of drugs,” Shabir Ahmed, general secretary of ‘Raahat’ drug de-addiction-cum-rehabilitation health centre, said. This health centre in the valley is run by an NGO, and in the past few years has treated more than 6,500 addicts.

Most drug addicts in the valley are in the 14-35 age group and a majority of them either belong to affluent families or live below the poverty line.

“Conflict, unemployment, family feud, fun and failed love affairs are some of the factors responsible for the youths here taking to drugs as these provide them temporary relief from stress. The 13-year-boy I just mentioned wanted to become bad so he took drugs and also liquor, but now he is rehabilitated,” Shabir Ahmed said.

Not only boys, but girls too are taking drugs in the valley, but they are not treated in the rehabilitation centre as doctors from this centre visit their house. “Girls take brown sugar, cannabis and other medical drugs, besides shoe polish and Iodex. In some cases, girls don’t remove their socks for several days and when it becomes stinky they shred them and eat them,” Shabir said.

The police also admit that drugs are easily available in Kashmir and schools, colleges and other educational institutes have become an easy target for drug dealers to lure the youths. Drugs are also easily available at all tourist places, including hotels and houseboats.

“There are several prestigious schools in the city where drugs are easily available. Even a few years ago, we confiscated a large amount of heroin from a student of a higher secondary school in Srinagar and in Baramulla also we arrested a teacher who was giving medicinal drugs to girl students,” a senior police officer said.

“I was lured into drug use when I was in school,” said a patient at the Raahat drug de-addiction centre, who studied in one of the prestigious schools in the valley. Asked from where he used to get the drugs, he said, “You should ask who was not taking drugs in our school.”

Jammu, May 15
As part of civic-action programme, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Jammu, Farooq Khan today flagged off a five-day educational-cum-recreational tour of a group of 55 students from the government schools of RS Pura, Jhajhar Kotli and Akhnoor.

In connection with the event, a function was held today at the Police Gazetted Officers’ Mess, Gulshan Ground, here.

Meanwhile, another group of 55 students, which was on a similar tour (May 10 to May 14), sponsored by the Jammu and Kashmir police, was received in the function.

During the tour, the children visited famous and historic cities of Delhi, Ajmer, Pushkar, Jaipur and Agra and saw the famous Indian landmarks, such as the Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Qutub Minar, Red Fort, India Gate, Dargah Ajmer Sharif, Brahma Temple, Raigarh Fort, Amber Fort, Jal Mahal, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

Jammu, May 15
Established on May 15, 1983, Natrang celebrated its 28th foundation day here today. With the presentation of classics like ‘Neeli Jheel’ and ‘Nanhnen Kandhey Nanhnen Pair’, it has emerged as one of the most active theatre groups of the country.

Founded by Balwant Thakur with the help of Vijay Attri, Prabodh Jamwal, Arun Sharma and later joined by Nariender Sachhar, Jugal Kaul, Suresh Sharma and Aasha Arora, Natrang in the past 27 years produced a record number of 185 major theatre productions, of which over 5,000 shows have been organised.

Natrang enjoys the distinction of being the only theatre group of the country that has record number of 164 national and international participations. In 2009, Natrang participated in six international theatre festivals.

As part of the 28th foundation day celebrations, Natrang premiered a new Urdu play ‘Tajbeez’ based on the world Russian Classic ‘The Marriage Proposal’ written by Anton Chekov. The play was adapted and directed by Balwant Thakur. The story of the play revolves around Shohab, Sania and Rehmat Mirza.

A long-time neighbour of Rehmat Mirza, Shohab, comes to propose his 25-year-old daughter, Sania. After he received a joyful permission to marry her, Sania is invited into the room, and he tries to convey his proposal to her.

Shohab is a hypochondriac, and while trying to make clear his reason for being there, he gets into an argument with Sania over a disputed piece of land. After her father notices that they are arguing, he throws Shohab out of the house.

Rehmat then tells his daughter that Shohab was about to propose her, and at this, she immediately asks her father to bring him back. Rehmat brings Shohab back, but Sania and Shohab get into a big argument again, and this time about the superiority of their respective dogs. Shohab collapses and they fear he is died.

However, after a few minutes he regains his consciousness, and Rehmat forces him and his daughter to accept the proposal. However, the couple gets into another argument.

Rohit Verma as Sohaib, Mohit Sharma as Rehmat and Rajani Bhat as Sania were at their best.

Srinagar, May 15
The policeman, who was among six persons injured in a grenade explosion targeted at a CRPF picket yesterday, succumbed to his injuries in the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) here today.

Identified as Bilal Ahmad from the Tral area of Pulwama district in south Kashmir, he received multiple injuries at Saraf Kadal, when unidentified militants lobbed grenade towards the picket of the 44 CRPF. Five others, including three CRPF men and two civilians, were also injured in the explosion.

Meanwhile, the residents of Saraf Kadal locality, in the congested downtown, staged a dharna on the main road passing through the area today, demanding the release of the youth held by the police. They alleged that several youths of the area had been picked up on the grounds of suspicion, following the explosion and pleaded their innocence.

Jammu, May 15
The Jammu State Morcha (JSM) has extended support to students of University of Jammu and strongly condemned the establishment of a police post inside the campus. In a joint statement issued here yesterday, the JSM leaders urged Vice-Chancellor Varun Sahni to have it removed immediately.

The JSM leaders appealed to Governor NN Vohra, who is also the Chancellor of the university, to immediately intervene and issue instructions to have this police post removed from the campus.