Samba, December 10
Despite claims of the government to divert pilgrims of Vaishno Devi towards other tourist destinations, all efforts failed to yield any encouraging results due to the non-availability of adequate infrastructure.

What to talk of modern infrastructure, the authorities even failed to provide basic amenities to the residents of those areas where historic sites are situated.

Among others, lack of adequate transport facilities in important towns and villages is a big dampner.

Swankha, the village famous for the revered shrine of Baba Sidh Goria, is a glaring example of the official negligence. Hundreds of pilgrims, with in and outside the state, visit the shrine, but there is no adequate transport system.

Due to this, pilgrims as well as locals can be seen travelling on the roof of various passenger vehicles plying on the route. “As only a few vehicles have been deployed on the route from Swankha Morh to Jhang, we have to travel on the roof due to overloading,” said Swaran Sharma, a local resident, while pointing towards an overloaded tempo in which passengers were crammed like cattle.

“We have no option but to travel in such a manner,” he said and regretted that the authorities were repeatedly asked to deploy some mini-buses or public buses on this route, but the matter was never considered.

Swankha is one of the important villages of Samba district. The road that passes through this village also connects with the shrine of Baba Chamalayal, which is located on the India-Pakistan border.

“On the one hand, the government claims of promoting border tourism of the Jammu region while on the other, even basic amenities are not in place,” rued Subash Chander, a resident of Swankha. He demanded that there should be a regular bus service from Swankha Morh to Swankha so that people, especially pilgrims, can easily reach the shrine. More than 30 small and big villages have been located on both the sides of this route, which connects Swankha village with the national highway. To reach the national highway, inhabitants of these villages have to travel in these vehicles, which is a risky affair due to overloading of passengers.

Road mishaps have become a routine affair on this route as vehicles plying on this road are mostly overloaded. “We have to put our lives at stake every day because we have no option but to travel in a risky manner to reach our destinations,” said Bishan Dass, another resident.

Jammu, December 10
“The so-called weightage or relaxation in the recruitment process for constables in the state police force to serving special police officers (SPOs) is nothing but a mere eyewash. How an SPO in his mid-thirties, after putting more than 15 years of service, could compete with candidates aged 18 years in physical test, involving a race of 1500 m, which has to be completed within seven minutes”.

This is how a group of SPOs, while talking to The Tribune, reacted to government’s claim of absorbing them in the state police force through concessions.

“We joined as SPOs in 1994 at the age of 18-20 years. We have put in 16 years in service on a meagre salary of Rs 3,000 per month. Now, at the age of around 34-36, how can we compete with young boys in various physical tests,” they ask.

“Our salaries are pathetic. We used to get Rs 1,500 a month, which was hiked to Rs 3,000 by the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad,” they say.

It may be stated here that besides other daily expenses on tea, shave and hair cut, an SPO has to spend Rs 20 to Rs 25 on his one-time meal that too from a roadside vendor or Rs 30 to Rs 35 on two-time meal at police mess, and Rs 10 for ironing his uniform.

“This government has a rehabilitation policy for militants. It is ready to give Rs 5 lakh each as compensation to the families of slain militants and stone-pelters, but it has nothing for us,” they regret.

One of the SPOs reveals that the Police Department deducts Rs 7 every month from their salary so as to help the families to meet the expenditure of last rites of those SPOs who sacrifice their lives in the line of duty.

“In case an SPO gets killed while combating militancy, the department provides Rs 10,000 out of a welfare fund created from our salaries to his family for the last rites,” he rues.

At the most, the family of the slain SPO, if it is lucky enough, may get Rs 1 lakh compensation as in the case of civilians who get killed in militant related violence, he adds.

“The enemies of this country who kill innocent people and target security forces are rehabilitated and compensated, but those who sacrifice their lives in the line of duty have no takers,” he said.

Pertinent to mention here that besides combating militancy, SPOs perform various other duties like maintaining law and order during strikes, protest rallies, guarding politicians and even domestic chores in the houses of police officers.

In 1994-95, the state government roped in youths as SPOs to combat militancy and since then their figures have swelled to approximately 26,000.

Airing their grievances, they say at the age of 36 years or more, they, despite frustration, are clinging on to their jobs to see the day when they are regularised and their salaries hiked.

“Presently, we are just non-entities in the police force. One small mistake and axe falls on our neck. Nothing comes under consideration, not even our 15 years or more of service to the department,” they lament.

“Fearing the wrath of senior police officers, we have not even constituted our association to voice our concern and hence have to talk clandestinely to mediapersons,” they add.

Jammu, December 10
In a bid to boost tourism in the Jammu and Kashmir region, the state government is mulling to open a new hotel management institute under Jammu University.

“The government would explore the possibility of establishing a hotel management institute under the aegis of Jammu University,” Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawag Rigzin Jora said while speaking at a function at the Food Craft Institute here.

The minister said the government was keen to develop skilled manpower required to meet the needs of ever-increasing tourist influx in the state, including pilgrims, traditional and others.

He said with the passage of time the degree courses in hotel management would be introduced in other universities of the state as well.

Despite unrest in Kashmir this summer, the Valley registered a whopping 5.5 lakh tourist arrivals which continued till date, he said, adding that the Ladakh region, a hit with foreign tourists, witnessed the arrival of local tourists as well unlike previous years.

“In the backdrop of this rising trend, the state needs a good number of trained persons to meet the requirements in the hospitality sector and the government has already taken various steps in this connection. Food craft institutions have already been set up in Jammu, Srinagar and Leh where a number of youths were being trained in the trade,” the minister said, adding that the Food Craft Institute, Jammu, would soon have its own building for which the Centre had released Rs 4.83 crore. —PTI 

Jammu, December 10
Various student organisations on the Jammu University campus are peeved at the fact that the varsity recognises only the Jammu University Research Scholars Executive Association (JURSEA) as a legitimate student body.

Like every year, the university authorities are expected to conduct elections of JURSEA in the coming months.

Most of the student organisations like the National Students Forum (NSF), Jammu Joint Students Federation (JJSF), Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI) have expressed willingness that the university should conduct elections where all student bodies are given a right to participate.

Prof NK Tripathi, dean, student welfare, said though JURSEA was not a recognised body of the university, the vice-chancellor recognised only JURSEA as the representative body of students and scholars since the university conducted its elections.

“The other student organisations active on the campus are constituted by different political parties,” said the dean, adding that the Students Cultural Council was the only recognised body of the students that deals with cultural activities.

He said, “We conduct elections of JURSEA in a democratic way where students and class representatives of all departments cast their votes”.

Expressing resentment against the authorities, Mahesh Koul, president, Sangarsh, alleged that the authorities were trying to suppress nationalistic and socialistic voice of students due to political pressure.

He said, ”All over India, university campuses are abuzz with the activities of student organisations which highlight issues regarding students. Though the authorities claim JURSEA as a recognised body, it is not a statutory body. Even the Jammu University Teachers Association (JUTA) is not a statutory body.”

Expressing desire that the authorities should conduct elections on the campus and constitute an elected body of students, Vikas Sharma, president, NSF, alleged that the vice-chancellor had not taken any student-friendly step so far.

Sharma said, “We want the university to conduct elections. An elected body of the students can play a great role in highlighting their issues. The elections should be held on the pattern of the University of Delhi and all student organisations should be given a right to participate”.

Rajveer Singh Manhas, president of NSUI, said by giving recognition to only JURSEA, the university wanted to maintain its dictatorship.

“In a democratic nation, every student organisation has a right to fight for the cause of students. Instead of conducting elections of only JURSEA, the university should conduct elections to students’ general body,” said Manhas.

He added that the NSUI had approached the authorities several times for the conduct of elections, but in vain.

Thakur Varinder Singh, president, JJSF, said the university was trying to create a divide among student bodies by not recognising them.

Meanwhile, Rakesh Chib, president, JURSEA, also favoured general body elections on the campus. He said JURSEA was an independent student organisation, which had its own constitution.

“We have constituted our own constitution and we approach the authorities every year for the conduct of elections”, said Chib.

He added that all student organisations active on the campus had an equal right to highlight the issues of the students.

New Delhi, December 10
The Centre proposes to spend Rs 70 crore in upgrading facilities for carpet manufacturers in Srinagar through a cluster scheme, Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran has said.

"We will try to upgrade the existing carpet cluster in Srinagar at an investment of `70 crore," he said here at an exhibition on handicrafts from Jammu and Kashmir.

Maran said these steps would go a long way in helping the carpet industry of the state.

Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who hails from J&K, said that the exhibition had been aptly named 'Nayab' (rare) because handicrafts from the state were unique.

After inaugurating the exhibition, Azad, however, said that a central project for opening an international trade centre was yet to take off although funds for the purpose had been sanctioned in 2007. He urged the Commerce Ministry to speed up the project.

The exhibition organised by the Development Commissioner, Handicrafts, offered for sale woollen textiles, pashmina shawls, embroidered suits, Kashmir suits and sarees, wood carving and hand-knotted carpets. — PTI

Jammu, December 10
The Sahitya Akademi in collaboration with the Dogri Sanstha organised a three-day national seminar on life and work of Padamshree-awardee late Ram Nath Shastri, also known as the father of Dogri, and paid tributes to the multifaceted literary personality.

The seminar on poet, dramatist, essayist and educationist, translator and editor started at Jammu University on December 8 and concluded at KL Sehgal Hall on December 10.

On the inaugural day of the seminar, in his keynote address, Lalit Magotra, president of the Dogri Sanstha, put light on the initial days of the Dogri Sanstha which marked the renaissance period in Dogri language and its literature. The Sanstha, he said, was founded under the tutelage of Prof Shastri in 1944. “He was the architect of modern Dogri literature and the Sanstha, which are synonymous with each other. Before the Sanstha, there was only oral literature save a book called “Nama Gran” written by Denu Bhai Pant, but after its foundation a movement started and history was scripted in the language that led to its inclusion in the Indian Constitution,” he said.

“It was only due to the efforts of the Dogri Sanstha under his leadership that the perception about Dogras underwent a change and Dogra pride was revived. Till then, the Dogras were known to be mercenary soldiers only or they would do menial jobs in adjoining states and were called ‘Pahari Mundu’,” he added.

Quoting Prof Shastri from an editorial of Nami Chenta, he said: “The time has come when there is an urgent need for the revival of Dogra pride through literary efforts by writing new poetry, new dramas on heroes of Dogra history, essays, articles, criticism besides working on the grammar of the language for new literature”. Magotra stressed on Dogri writers and artists to work according to the vision envisaged by him.

MR Puri, former vice-chancellor of Jammu University, was the chief guest in the function which was attended by various dignitaries.

Srinagar, December 10
It was a dream come true for a group of 25 students, hailing from remote villages in Uri sector near the Line of Control (LoC) as they boarded an aircraft for the first time yesterday as part of a group selected by the Army for a 'Bharat darshan' tour.

The group of 19 boys and six girls in the age group of 12-16 years was flagged off by Brig Sanjiv Saini Commander, 161 Rampur-based brigade, at Uri in Baramulla district, 100 km from here, for their 20-day tour of the country.

"I am excited at travelling in an aeroplane for the first time in my life. You cannot probably imagine the anticipation I am going through as I had never even seen a plane," a boy from Silikote, close to the LoC, told reporters at the flagging-off ceremony.

Brig Saini said the tour had been organised as part of "Operation sadbhavana" (goodwill) to provide an opportunity to young students to see the progress and development of the country.

The students were selected from four schools covering 13 villages and will visit Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore, and will get the opportunity to interact with some leading figures of the country, including former President APJ Abdul Kalam, the commander said.

He said the boys and girls would travel by air from Srinagar to Delhi as well as on their return journey in view of long duration of the tour.

"We wanted to cut short the travelling time for the kids so that they don't get home sick or bored during the tour," he said.

They will also enjoy train travel in the first class AC compartment from Delhi to Mumbai, he said, adding that the students were being accompanied by two men and one woman teachers. — PTI

Jammu, December 10
Even as the government plans to construct more stadiums in future to promote sports activities in the state, the fate of some of the existing ones, however, speaks volumes of utter neglect and inertia on part of the authorities concerned to maintain them.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at a function had recently declared that in its efforts to boost sports activities in the state, the government was planning to construct more stadiums to impart coaching to the local youths. A similar kind of reference to raise sports infrastructure was made by Governor NN Vohra while speaking on the concluding function of the 22nd Sub-Junior National Kabaddi Championship held at MA Stadium here on November 13.

While the government was talking of exploring more possibilities to promote sports in the state, a very look of the facilities available at the existing stadiums has horrible tales of neglect to tell.

The mini stadium at Hiranagar town is one such typical example of victim of official apathy and utter neglect on part of the Department of Youth Services and Sports. In the absence of proper care, the stadium has over a period of time virtually turned into a grazing field.

“As there is no regular ground staff to look after the stadium, animals are spotted strolling in its vast ground most of the times,” said Sunil Kumar, a resident of the town.

Arvind, captain of a local football team, said it was difficult to play in the ground due to the uneven surface, untrimmed grass and bushes.

The footballer said even as the stadium had facilities for playing under lights, most of such towered lights have either fused bulbs or erratic power supply. Some playing courts within the stadium complex have remained unattended to and further their goalposts were rusting for want of proper care, he regretted. The stadium is also facing a threat of encroachment, as a number of attempts had been made in the past to encroach upon a portion of it. Even as the main gate of the stadium was recently constructed, a boundary wall on some sides of the ground is yet to be erected.

Aman, a collegiate, said as preparations for the Republic Day parade are shortly to begin in the stadium, the supply of potable water, which was inaugurated by MLA Subash Chander Gupta on April 3 this year, was presently non-functional.

Kanchan Bala, district youth sports officer, however, asserted that all was well at Hiranagar stadium. “We have an office of the zonal physical officer who has been entrusted the job to look after sports activities at Hiranagar,” she maintained.

Srinagar, December 10
Stressing the need to take family as the primary unit and ensure that a child gets love and attention to develop his faculties, the vice-chancellor of the University of Kashmir has said the media has a key role to play in sensitising society regarding child rights.

“Media has an important role to play in sensitising society regarding child rights,” said Riyaz Punjabi while inaugurating a two-day workshop on “Media and Child Rights” at Media House Auditorium here recently. He lamented that in Asia, child rights were ignored more than the West where a passenger would leave his seat in a bus for a child. Stressing on merging education and vocation so as to overcome growing unemployment of the educated youth, Prof Punjabi complimented the organisers for conducting the workshop on an issue of concern.

Being organised by the Media Education Research Centre (MERC), in association with Save The Children, JK chapter, the workshop aims at engaging trainee journalists at the centre so as to equip them with necessary know-how to report on issues concerning and affecting children. Thirty students of MERC participated in the two-day workshop. In the keynote address on the occasion, Prof AG Madhosh, noted educationist, citing several studies, expressed concern over “depiction of crime and display of violence by electronic media affecting the well-being of the child”. He called for sensitivity towards child’s needs by the media.

Shahid Rasool, head, MERC, stressed on utmost caution by the media in view of vulnerability of the fragile section of society. “Children are our future”, he added while terming the workshop as need of the hour.

Nasir Mirza, senior faculty, MERC, and workshop co-ordinator, said the workshop coincided with World Human Rights Day celebrations. “Child rights are human rights too,” he observed. “The workshop also coincides with 25th anniversary of the MERC,” said Mirza while recalling the services of Prof Manzurul Amin, founder and first HoD of MERC.

Mufti Reyaz, advocacy officer, of Save the Children, spoke about the role his organisation played in the state while Syeda Afshana, senior assistant professor, MERC, proposed the vote of thanks.

When you are in a queue at any place here, be it a cash counter of a bank, a multipurpose counter at a post office or any other counter for submitting application forms in an educational institution or an administrative office at the university or the State Board of School Examinations, you have to be cautious lest you should fail to accomplish your job even after spending the whole day.

In order to avoid this and maintain discipline at the BSNL cash counters, a token system was introduced a couple of years ago. Under the system everyone entering the newly constructed complex is given a token bearing a serial number and counter No and asked to wait for his turn.

Only one or three persons will stand in front of each of the around 10 cash counters while others would wait in a lounge for their turn called by the electronic system. This system ensured smooth movement of customers in front of the counters.

Srinagar, December 10
Over 700 kanals of land has been developed in the Industrial Estate, Khonmoh, near here, said Minister for Industries and Commerce SS Salathia during his visit to take stock of the functioning of various industrial units there. Managing Director of SIDCO Mohammad Mauzam informed the visiting minister that 581 kanals of land had been allotted to 376 units of which 90 units were under implementation.

The cumulative investments to be mobilised through these units would be approximately more than Rs 100 crore and it was expected that these units would provide employment to at least 1500 persons. It was also stated that land had been identified for setting up of a dispensary by the ESIC through the Labour Department, an official spokesman said.

The minister also visited some food processing units in the existing Food Park falling in phase III. He appreciated the entrepreneurs for establishing these units, which not only provided livelihood to the promoters themselves but also provided employment to a number of unemployed youth. He was informed that a few existing food-processing units were also exporting some of their products.

Salathia said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had initiated several measures for promoting industrial culture but due to unrest in the Valley it received a setback. However, the government had again taken certain steps in this connection. He asked the youth to avail benefits of the industrial schemes which was the only way to tackle unemployment in the state.

The minister also interacted with representatives of the Federation of Chamber of Industries, Kashmir, and the Association of Industrialists, Industrial Estate, Khunmoh. He emphasized the need for adhering strictly to the pollution control norms so that the process of industrialisation was not at the cost of environment. Salathia stated that the norms regarding employment of locals as also needed to be strictly monitored by the government agencies concerned.

The minister instructed the Industries Department to identify for acquisition 1000 kanals immediately to cater to the requirement of a number of prospective entrepreneurs.

The minister later distributed land allotment letters among some of the prospective entrepreneurs.