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Bungling in Centrally-sponsored Schemes “Probe fire extinguishers’ purchase by school education dept” Students seek conveyance, block road |
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6th Pay Panel Recommendations Gujjars oppose ST status to Paharis Brisk jewellery sale on Akshay Tritiya Fateh Divas Committee holds Gurmat Samagam Adequate funds for development, says minister BJP urges Governor to ensure fairness in census Idols of Hanuman, Vaishno Devi installed Kashmiri Pandits hail move on housing clusters Hindi play “Khandani Gawah” staged Kashmiri Pandits perform havan in temple after 21 yrs Shift school from shrine complex, demand villagers Strengthen community policing mechanism: DGP Gujjars demand special census
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Bungling in Centrally-sponsored Schemes Jammu, May 16 Pandita interacted with the beneficiaries of various programmes and also inspected work sites randomly to assess the ground realities. Though officers of the Rural Development Department have termed this visit as routine, sources said the central team especially came after getting repeated complaints about bungling in the implementation of the schemes, especially the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Gurantee Act (MNREGA) scheme and the Indira Awas Yojna (IAY). During his week-long stay in Reasi district, Pandita conducted a random checking of undergoing works and some projects that had been completed by the Rural Development Department. Though there are not much complaints of bungling in these schemes in Reasi and the Pouni block, it is widely alleged that in the remotest militancy plagued areas like Mahore, Gool and Arnas such programmes were implemented only on paper. As far as the MNREGA scheme is concerned, people alleged that cards have been issued to a large number of people, but jobs were provided only to some selected people. Recently some people had organised a protest demonstration at Mahore against the non-payment of wages. Senior officers of the Revenue and Rural Development Department are tightlipped, but sources said during the inspection, the team pinpointed some loopholes and mismanagement in the funds allotted by the Centre for the development of rural areas. A senior officer of the Rural Development Department admitted that most of the schemes, especially the MNREGA and IAS, were not properly implemented in areas like Mahore and Gool. He further admitted that works under the MNREGA had been allotted keeping in view the political consideration. Mahore subdivision of Reasi district is one of the most backward areas of the state. Though a number of developmental schemes have been implemented for the uplift of this neglected belt, all such schemes remained only
on papers. |
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“Probe fire extinguishers’ purchase by school education dept” Jammu, May 16 Addressing a press conference, Vikas Sharma, NSF president, said the Chief Education Officer (CEO), Jammu, had passed a verbal order to the zonal education officers, principals and headmasters to purchase fire extinguishers from a particular dealer at his recommended rates which was against the order issued by Commissioner/ Secretary School Education, GA Peer and Director School Education, Zahida Khan. He alleged that the CEO had cleverly managed the show by not issuing orders in the form of notification and now denying the same to save his skin. “Some CEOs in other districts have confirmed that they also directed their zonal education officers, principals and headmasters to go for purchase from the same dealer on the advise of CEO Jammu,” he added. “There is no accountability in the purchases of education department and fire extinguishers were being purchased at exaggerated prices causing heavy loss to state exchequer,” he
further said. |
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Students seek conveyance, block road Jammu, May 16 Fed up with the repeated promises of the authorities concerned, the students joined by some villagers blocked the Jammu-Pouni road, near Talwara, and shouted slogans against the government. After getting information about the blockade, senior police officers rushed to the spot and pacified the students. The police officers assured the students that some buses would be deputed especially on this road for students from Monday. On the assurance of the police officers, the protesters lifted the dharna, but warned that they would revive their stir if the promise was not fulfilled on Monday. |
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6th Pay Panel Recommendations Srinagar, May 16 This was stated by Finance Minister AR Rather here yesterday after a meeting of the five-member Cabinet subcommittee under his leadership with representatives of the employees to resolve their pending demands. Rather said the assurances given by the Chief Minister would be adhered strictly and the road map for the release of arrears would be accordingly prepared within three months on the basis of which appropriate decisions would be taken. For acquiring the full pension benefits, the committee had decided to reduce the qualifying services from 30 to 28 years, he added. For the regularisation of daily wage earners, the Cabinet subcommittee would submit its report to the Cabinet within six months. The Finance Minister also announced the release of salaries in favour of the employees for the striking period and the period would be considered as leave whatsoever due to them as one-time exception. He said the process would be initiated to look into the cases of those employees against whom action was taken under ESMA and a positive and lenient view would be taken after following the due process of law. Rather announced that the employees would get increase of 2.5 per cent HRA from June this year, while rest 2.5 per cent will be released in June 2011 next year. Regarding the release of dearness allowance, the Finance Minister said it was decided that orders for release of 8 per cent DA would be issued soon. He said that the long-pending demand of PSU employees had been solved by conversion of COLA into DA and would be effected from July 1, 2010. He said the government had always been employee-friendly and had taken several measures, including implementation of the 6th Pay Commission due to which state ex-chequer had to face burden of Rs 1,800 crore. He appealed to the employees to work with sincerity in serving
the people. |
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Gujjars oppose ST status to Paharis Jammu, May 16 While Paharis are organising the conference to put pressure on the government to recommend their case for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, the Gujjars and Bakerwals have warned the coalition government against any such move as Paharis, according to them, are not nomads. Secretary of the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation Javid Rahi has stated that any move to grant ST status to Paharis would prove disastrous as Gujjars and Bakerwals would not tolerate it at any cost. “We are not against the Pahari conference, but we will oppose any move to grant them ST status,” he said, adding that there was no logic in granting the status to Paharis. As organisers have made it public that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Pradesh Congress Committee chief Saif-ud-Din Soz, ministers in the coalition government and all Pahari MLAs - irrespective of their party affiliations - have given them consent to participate in the conference, the Gujjars leaders have asked the leaders to stay from the conference. J&K Tribal United Forum has warned the political leadership of the state and the Centre to stay away from the proposed Pahari Conference. The forum, while appealing leaders to stay from the “controversial” conference, also stated that their presence in the meeting would drag them into serious controversies. It also termed the conference an attempt to mislead the government as, according to them, the Paharis - a linguistic group - did not even quality for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category as per the recommendations given by the various commissions from time to time. The Gujjars also pointed out that the Paharis were neither defined as a weaker section and nor they approached the Gajendragadkar Commission, the Sikri Commission, the Wazir Commission, the Anand Commission and the Mandal Commission for their inclusion as such. All these commissions had identified the OBCs, SCs and STs and none of them had recognised the Paharis as the weaker section. Paharis, on the other hand, are hopeful that despite opposition, they would get ST status soon. Chief executive of the Pahari Peoples’ Movement Shahbaz Khan said the struggle for getting ST status had reached a crucial stage. |
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Brisk jewellery sale on Akshay Tritiya Jammu, May 16 On the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya, the main jewellery markets of the old city - namely Lakhdata Bazaar and Jain Bazaar - witnessed huge rush of customers. Despite it being Sunday, all jewellery shops at Lakhdata Bazaar and most of the jewellery showrooms at Jain Bazaar remained opened. Vijay Saraf, president of the Lakhdata Bazaar Business Welfare Association, said they had received around 75 per cent sale of the products inside the city whereas outside the city the sale reached above 80 per cent. He added that though the prices of gold items was about 20 per cent higher this year as compared to the previous year, sale of gold and other precious metal products was also higher. “Last year we had received 70 per cent sale on Akshay Tritiya, but this time we received higher sales,” said Saraf. Besides the auspicious day, another reason for the high sales was attributed to the rising trend of purchasing gold that is considered as a good investment. Ashok Sodhi, another jeweller, said: “Earlier, the sale was not upto the mark due to the off season, but today we have earned expected profits. Now the marriage season is on and we will be able to cover our losses.” Expressing similar views, Saurav Suri, another jewellery maker, said besides those who purchased gold for marriage purpose, many customers also purchased 1-4gm gold as Meanwhile, Vijay Saraf said many businessmen were facing setback in business from a long time due to traffic congestion in the market. “About 20 per cent of jewellers have shifted to the outskirts of the city due to this problem,” he stated. He appealed to the government to interlink the market road to Circular Road so that vehicles could enter from one side and exit from another, thus, helping in decongestion . |
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Fateh Divas Committee holds Gurmat Samagam Jammu, May 16 The Gurmat Samagam started late last evening and finished this morning in which thousands of devotees participated. The function was held under the supervision of Mahant Manjeet Singh of Dera Nangali Sahib (Poonch) here. Raagis from Delhi, Dhadis and preachers from Punjab and Amritsar also participated in the function and addressed the gathering. Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Raman Bhalla and vice-chairman of legislative council, Arvinder Singh Miky, also attended the function. Addressing the huge gathering of devotees, both leaders remembered the sacrifices of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. They said a memorial should be raised in his memory. Mahant Manjeet Singh said the Delhi Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (DGPC) has given one crore for the constructing memorial of Banda Singh Bahadur at his native place in Rajouri. The mahant said president of DGPC Paramjeet Singh Sarna had also given assurance to make a guest house near Harminder Sahib in Amritsar for the stay of pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir. He further said the tercentenary celebrations would conclude on May 22 and a samagam at Dera Nangali Sahib, Poonch would be organised. Former chairman, SGPB, Sudershan Singh Wazir, also highlighted life, sacrifices and achievements of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Special prayers were made for peace, which was followed a community kitchen for the devotees. Prominent Sikh personalities present included Avtar Singh Khalsa, Mohonder Singh, Paramjeet Singh, Harjeet Singh, Narbir Singh, Dayal Singh Wazir, Amrik Singh, Gurdev Singh, Ramneek Singh Bijral and Darbinder Singh. |
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Adequate funds for development, says minister Jammu, May 16 Addressing series of public meetings while inspecting various development projects in the Gandhi Nagar Assembly segment, Bhalla said it was duty of the coalition government to fulfil aspirations of people of the state and this regime was committed to fulfil its responsibilities. Bhalla conducted a public darbar at Chatha Farm and assessed the hardships being faced by the people. He asked officers of the Roads and Buildings Department to immediately start the construction work of internal lanes and drains of Chatha Farm for which Rs 28 lakh was earmarked. Earlier he inaugurated a mini tube well with capacity of 3,000 gallon at Sector-4 extension in Sanjay Nagar, completed at a cost of Rs 50 lakh under Water Supply Scheme. Bhalla said on the commissioning of tube well, a population of 2,000 of Sanjay Nagar and its adjoining areas would be benefited. He asked the people to use drinking water judicious. He said due to global warming and continuous dry spell in the country, the water-level has gone all time low. He said it was the duty of every resident not to waste drinking water unnecessarily. He said the coalition government has approved Rs 227 crore for construction of tube wells and over head tanks in the Gandhi Nagar constituency. |
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BJP urges Governor to ensure fairness in census Jammu, May 16 Addressing meetings of BJP activists at the Durganagar and Rajpura areas of the Jammu West assembly segment, BJP legislative party leader Chaman Lal Gupta observed that the conduct of census was an important exercise. “But it was unfortunate that during the past some decades, particularly in the past over two decades, the religious bigotry and virus of separation had been playing their dirty role in any such operations resulting in many problems and lack of correct data about the factual position on the ground”, he said. In this regard, Gupta pointed out that during the last census of 2001 in the state, the figures were manipulated to an amazing extent. Against the average increase in the population of about 21 per cent at the national level, this increase in Jammu and Kashmir was recorded at 31 per cent between 1991 and 2001. He mentioned that most intriguing increase was recorded in certain districts of the Kashmir valley. In Kupwara the increase in the population was recorded as high as 94 per cent and in Baramulla it was over 88 per cent. |
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Idols of Hanuman, Vaishno Devi installed Jammu, May 16 On the occasion, a large number of devotees assembled in the temple. The religious fervour was at its peak when both the idols were first worshipped and later installed inside the temple, which is under construction. A member of the temple management committee, Pravin Gupta said, “Panch Mandir Management Committee is committed to build a majestic temple.” He said like other famous temples such as Raghunath Mandir, Ranbireshwar Mandir, the temple can be developed as major attraction for devotees coming from outside the state. The construction work in the temple premises started in year 2000 and is still on. Artisans from Jaipur have been engaged for marble work. He said a non-commercial big community hall was also being constructed by the Panch Mandir Management Committee for religious gatherings. |
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Kashmiri Pandits hail move on housing clusters Jammu, May 16 This announcement was made by the minister yesterday while addressing a public rally at Narpora village of the constituency. While talking to The Tribune, Pradiman Raina of Sagam village, who presently resides in Muthi village, said the step taken by the Education Minister was appreciable as it would help to build faith among both communities (Kashmiri Hindus and Kashmiri Muslims) in the valley. He said, “We are ready to return back to the valley. There is an urge for permanent rehabilitation among almost all Kashmiri Pandits, especially, those residing in these transit camps for temporary period.” Welcoming the step of the Education Minister, Bansi Lal of Irkamoo village, presently living in Patoli Bhramna area said, “We want to return to our homes without any hesitation but the conditions in the valley must be conducive.” However, Ashok Ji of Hangal Gund village, presently residing in Nagrota Migrant Camp raised query that if an individual could take decision about their return to the valley, then what is the purpose of the apex committee of the Pandits constituted by the state government to monitor the implementation of return and rehabilitation package
for the migrants. Meanwhile, the Minister told the Tribune that the Kashmir valley was incomplete without the Kashmiri Pandits. He said the construction of clusters of houses for migrants, who would have desired to return to the valley, would improve the socioeconomic condition of the area. He appealed to the Pandits belonging to his constituency to return back. He said over 2,500 families of the Pandits in his constituency reside in various migrant camps in Jammu and they should come back to their homes without any hesitation. The Minister said, “For the construction of clusters of houses at both villages, around 25 |
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Hindi play “Khandani Gawah” staged Jammu, May 16 The play “Khandani Gawah” focuses on a professional witness “Chowdhary” who runs his livelihood through posing himself differently in accordance with the situation of the case and demand. Being expert and master of the trade, he likes his fee and claims to give guaranteed results and even boasts of giving accurate legal opinion. His clientèle of generations and experience of lifetime started cutting the share of many established lawyers of the area. Over confident Chowdhary even goes to the extent and announces money back scheme, if he fails to deliver the desired results. Earlier he used to study the cases so deeply and thoroughly that no one could suspect his false representation. This way he earned a name for himself and people started following him blindly. But with the growing business and demand he starts taking the assignments casually but his fortune continues to favour him. Once he plays a big deal in a disputed property case and impersonates the closest friend of a deceased. Chowdhary moves to the witness box without any preparation and start fumbling, one query after the other. Chowdhary makes many attempts to save his witness but the judge suspects his identity and starts grinding him and finally gets into the trap of his own misrepresentations. Vikram Sharma who has been playing lead roles in Sunday Theatre since last three weeks, today demonstrated successfully as a promising actor. Balwinder Singh as Judge exhibited the art of underplaying the character in a matured manner. They were supported by Bipin Gupta as Chuttan, Arvind Singh as Hira Lal and Vasu Gupta as peon not only supported the lead players but also reformed equally well. The lights were designed and executed by Mohit Sharma and music was composed by Rohit Verma. Pankush Verma coordinated the show and Gaurav Jamwal did the presentations.
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Kashmiri Pandits perform havan in temple after 21 yrs Srinagar, May 16 “For the first time after the migration of the Kashmiri Pandits, we performed havan in the temple located in the Soura locality here,” chairman of the All-Parties Migrant Coordination Committee Vinod Pandit said. “As the name suggests, vichar means thought and this is the temple where high priests of the community used to meet on a certain day of the year to discuss the formation of the jantari (calendar),” he said, and added the reopening of the temple was a step towards saving their cultural heritage. “We have a history of more than 5,000 years and so far we have reopened several temples,” Pandit said. Besides its religious value, the temple also has historical importance. It finds its mention in Neelmat Puran and Raj Trangani that have penned the history of the valley. Hundreds of devotees who had come from various parts of the country to take part in the havan were disappointed to see that a sewer line carried filthy water of the area to the pond and the temple premises. The complex was once spread over nearly 100 kanals, but members of the Kashmiri Pandit community allege that a large portion of the land has been encroached upon. “Since our migration, several houses have come up on the temple land that has been encroached upon by some people. We request the government to take steps to order the removal of the encroachments to restore the faith of the displaced community,” said Kanhiya Lal, president of the Hindu Welfare Forum. |
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Shift school from shrine complex, demand villagers Shar Shalli (Ladhoo), May 16 This three-room middle school, with a strength of about 65, is often closed due to ongoing social and religious activities. The residents demand that the school be shifted out of the shrine complex to some adjacent place in the locality. “We are ready to offer land. If the government provides employment to that family, we’ll give land,” they added. “It is very difficult for us to concentrate on studies. First, there is lack of space. There are no proper classrooms and playing facilities.Then, there are activities going around almost every week,” said a group of students here. Often students are taught in the open whenever weather conditions are favourable. But when it is rough, more than one classes are assembled in one room. The school has five teachers (two permanent and three Rehbar-e-Taleem). “Of course, they get disturbed, but we have no option. Basically, this is not a suitable place for a school,” said the teachers. The middle school has been recently upgraded. “No infrastructure has been developed. It has been upgraded on paper only,” argued the residents. They added facilities should have been developed first. “There is no point in upgrading a school without proper and update infrastructure.” The students get disturbed frequently as the school is on the premises of the shrine and often there are activities there. Generally, people from different parts of the valley visit the shrine on Thursdays and Sundays. “The moment children find people gathered around and distributing eatables, they move out. Sometimes even teachers leave the classes,” said Ghulam Rasool, a resident. He added that the place was not suitable for teaching. The teachers said during various functions and religious occasions innumerable vehicles were parked in the compound of the shrine, leaving no space to approach the school. “Students can’t be taught in such conditions and even they lose interest and their attention gets diverted,” they added. |
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Strengthen community policing mechanism: DGP Srinagar, May 16 Laying emphasis on professional policing, the DGP said people come to the police with hopes of getting their complaints redressed and all ranks of the force should work with zeal and devotion to come up to
their expectations. Khoda also took district-wise review of crime in the division and said success of any organisation was largely dependent on public cooperation. He said police-public meetings should be held regularly for securing greater cooperation of the masses. Addressing the meeting, Khoda said peace was pre-requisite for progress and prosperity of the state for which the Jammu and Kashmir police along with other security agencies was determined to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the state with an iron hand, but at the same time it has to ensure that no law abiding citizen was put to any inconvenience. Meanwhile, a one-day workshop for young investigators was held at zonal police headquarters, Srinagar. The workshop was inaugurated by DGP Khoda and was attended by ADGP K Rajindra, IG (Security) Ram Lubaya, IGP (Headquarters) B Srinivas, IGP (Traffic) Mohammad Amin Shah, IGP (Police Housing Corporation) R Kotwal and IGP (Railways) G Reddy. Khoda, while inaugurating the workshop, emphasised upon the young officers to focus on inculcating new investigative techniques for investigations as the commission of crime has changed the manifestations in the new era of information technology. |
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Gujjars demand special census Srinagar, May 16 They also stressed upon the Centre and the state government to jointly launch an exclusive programme to conduct a special census of nomadic and shelterless Gujjars-Bakerwals in the state. Giving details of the letter, TRCF secretary Javaid Rahi said: “We demand a special census of around 6-8 lakh nomadic and shelterless Gujjars-Bakerwals who are presently under seasonal migration along with their livestock through seven major routes towards upper reaches of Pir Panchal, Shavalik and Trikuta Hills of the Himalaya”. Rahi said the Registrar General of India (RGI) should hold exclusive mapping to list movement of nomads in the Himalayan region and introduce a new column - ‘nomadic or shelterless category’ - in registration forms of the census. “This will help enumerators to accommodate a big chunk of tribal population during the process, who are otherwise feared to be
left out.” The letter further read that the earlier census had “left us un-enumerated and lakhs of nomadic Gujjars, who were on upper reaches at that time, had been left out”. |
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Govt has failed to identify with masses: Mehbooba Srinagar, May 16 She said the coalition regime had not only lost its credibility but also the government had been exposed before the masses within one-and-half year of its formation because it had done nothing to honour the mandate of the people. “It was all due to the pro-people policies adopted by the previous PDP-led regime that the common masses had identified themselves with the democratically elected government”, she said while addressing a one-day conference of party workers at Hazaratbal today. She said that the people had overwhelmingly supported the steps taken by the then government. Meanwhile, former CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has said that Kashmiri youths would continue to be treated with suspicion till the Kashmir issue was resolved. Addressing a convention in south Kashmir yesterday, the PDP patron said it had become a routine to arrest and imprison Kashmiri youths in different parts of the country on flimsiest grounds and restrict their personal liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. A large number of innocent youths had fallen victim to this mindset of suspicion and bias, he said and cited the example of a young boy from Srinagar who was let off by a Delhi court after 14 long years in jail. He said such a treatment only widened the gulf between the people of the state and rest of the country, which needed to be addressed by the Prime Minister. He said while some of those arrested outside the state were released even after delayed verdicts of innocence and losing best years of their youth, the government in the state treated court orders in similar cases with outright contempt as happened with almost all leaders like Shabir Shah, Nayeem Khan, Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi and others. |
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Jammu, May 16
Jammu, May 16
Jammu, May 16
ammu, May 16
Srinagar, May 16
Chairing crime review meeting of senior police officers of Kashmir division here today, DGP Kuldeep Khoda stressed for strengthening community policing mechanism by associating the public at all levels. He exhorted that police officials should ensure people-friendly policing without causing any harassment to the public while discharging their duties.
