Jammu, March 25
Undeserving and affluent people have been taking the benefits of schemes meant for the urban poor. Some government employees who are drawing handsome salary have taken the benefit of the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) formulated to provide financial assistance to the poor for constructing residential houses within the municipal limits.

These allegations were levelled by Ajaz Ahmed Jan, National Conference MLA from Poonch, in the Legislative Assembly when Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who holds the charge of Housing and Urban Development Ministry, submitted details of the beneficiaries of the scheme.

As the Deputy Chief Minister submitted particulars of 270 beneficiaries under the scheme, the ruling party members alleged that a majority of the beneficiaries were undeserving people. The MLA alleged that the poor were ignored and even some government employees were given the benefit. He demanded an inquiry into the matter so that officials responsible for extending benefits of such schemes to undeserving people should be held guilty.

Tara Chand said there were specific guidelines of the Union Government regarding the scheme. “The benefit is provided to urban slum-dwellers who do not possess adequate shelter and reside in pathetic conditions. The target group under the scheme is slum-dwellers from all sections through a cluster approach as is envisaged in the guidelines,” he said.

Ahmed said, “I have authentic proof that some of the beneficiaries in the list own palatial houses. Out of the total 270 beneficiaries, a large number of them are undeserving”.

When Tara Chand asked the member to single out specific cases so as to take action against the officers and refer the case to the vigilance, the MLA mentioned the name of an officer posted in Poonch and who was given additional charge of Rajouri district as well. “The Vigilance has already registered a case against the said officer, but instead of taking action against him, the government gave him additional charge of Rajouri”, he alleged and demanded constitution of a House committee to look into these irregularities.

The member, who belongs to the ruling party, caused embarrassment to the government when he stated on the floor of the House that tenders for various works were on sale in Poonch district.

Jammu, March 25
Having suffered heavy casualties last year in the militancy-plagued Jammu and Kashmir, foreign mercenaries operating in the state have now adopted a new strategy of using local ultras as “cannon fodder” to dodge security forces and at the same time keep militancy alive.

Last year, several top commanders, mostly foreign ultras of various outfits, were liquidated by security forces in the state.

In one such counter-insurgency operation, the Army had killed 16 Lashkar militants, all foreign mercenaries from Pakistan, in a protracted gun battle in the Rajouri-Kalakote-Reasi area last year.

“Their (foreign mercenaries) motivation level is high and being better trained having sophisticated weapons, they use local ultras as ‘cannon fodder’,” sources in the counter-terrorism forces confided to The Tribune.

On March 12 this year, security forces had killed two local militants Ishfaq Chopan of Hameen and Khursheed Mohammed Itoo of Reban in Habibpora area of Shopian district while one foreign militant of Lashkar had escaped. Both local ultras gunned down in the encounter had joined militancy in February this year.

Similarly on March 18 this year, security forces in another encounter at Pahalpora in Pulwama district had killed one local ultra Abdul Rashid Awwan of Pahalpora, who had joined militancy in November 2010, but two foreign mercenaries owing allegiance to Hizbul Mujahideen had managed their escape.

Besides using local ultras as ‘cannon fodder’, foreign militants have no faith and distrust them because the local ultras had rarely struck in a big way, said the sources.

“Though lure of money easily drags the local youth into militancy, their training as well as motivation level are much weaker than foreign mercenaries and hence there is an element of distrust and at times rivalry between the two,” they added.

“Usually, foreign ultras call the shots in various terror outfits and the local ultras have to follow their diktats. Therefore, foreign mercenaries have an edge over the local militants,” said the sources.

Furthermore, foreign mercenaries have been provided sophisticated weaponry and gadgets like Thoraya satellite phone, GPS system and AK series assault rifles by Pakistan’s ISI to revive militancy in the state via local militants. Out of a total of 42 terror camps in PoK, 34 camps continue to operate.

Srinagar, March 25
The Handicrafts Department, Ganderbal, organized a day-long awareness camp for artisans of Ganderbal District. Showkat Mir, District Development Commissioner, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Showkat Mir stated that the handicrafts sector was one of the vital components of employment in the state and lakhs of people were directly or indirectly connected with this sector.

He said the government had accorded priority to the sectors like tourism, handicrafts, education, health etc as these sectors were connected with the common people.

He advised the artisan community to avail all such schemes that have been programmed for their economic betterment.

He asked the financial institutions functioning in the district to simplify their loan procedures to cover maximum artisans.

The artisans were exhorted to derive benefit from various state and centrally sponsored schemes like Rajiv Gandhi Bima Yojna and Jan Shri Bima Scheme. if covered under these schemes the artisans could easily make a medical claim for his or his family’s treatment.

The Central Governmennt was giving Rs 800 as a subsidy on the annual premium of Rs 1000 for artisans from the APL category and Rs 900 from the BPL category.

A Handicrafts Department official said 325 artisans were registered in this district and 150 cases were forwarded to different banks during the year 2010-11. Besides, an interest subsidy amounting to Rs 3 lakh was provided by the government to various artisans in the district.

Despite clear instructions that begging is not allowed in the Kashmir valley, Srinagar has become the begging capital of the state as beggars from different parts of the country come here for begging. With the arrival of spring in the Kashmir valley, hundreds of beggars have reached the valley.

These beggars can be seen at all important places in Srinagar city, be it Lal Chowk, the commercial hub of the valley, any religious place or at the bus or Sumo stand in the summer capital (See picture).

These professional beggars do not let anyone leave without taking something.

Srinagar, March 25
The government plans to plant 18000 chinar saplings during the chinar plantation drive in the Kashmir valley this season, said Dr Asgar Samoon, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, at a function held at Zanana Park, Raj Bagh, after planting a chinar sapling recently

The Divisional Commissioner, however, urged the people not to plant chinar trees around their residential houses and appealed to them to play their role in the protection of these precious trees. The Divisional Commissioner asked officers of the Floriculture Department to ensure the protection of chinars, besides planting saplings on land vacant across the valley.

He said this tree, brought here by the Mughal Emperor from Central Asia, added to the beauty of the valley. Without these majestic trees, the essence of the beauty of Kashmir was incomplete.

Dr SA Naqash, Director, Floriculture, highlighted the importance of plantation of chinars in the valley and announced that chinar saplings would be distributed free of cost among people.

Srinagar, March 25
About 500 conifer saplings were planted in the premises of Jammu and Kashmir Sainik School, Manasbal, as part of the World Arbor Day.

The movement to plant trees on a large scale in the premises of the institution, which possesses about 600 kanal of land, was launched by SA Mir, district development commissioner, Ganderbal.

Others present on the occasion included Imtiyaz Hussain, Ganderbal SSP; Prof Hakeem Mohammad Iqbal, coordinator, NSS, University of Kashmir; and Muneer-Ul-Islam, assistant commissioner, Ganderbal.

The district development commissioner also planted trees on the behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Syed, Minister for Forests and Environment Mian Altaf Ahmad and Wing commander JK Gandhi, founder principal of the school.

To encourage participation of students, placards, with the name and roll no. of each student inscribed on them, were attached with the trees, which will be nurtured and looked after by the respective student. The placards will be a permanent feature.

Ajaz Ahmad Kakroo, principal of the school, highlighted the importance of plantation on a massive scale. The school was also declared a “no polythene zone”. The principal expressed thanks to Rahim Greens for their assistance in the procurement of plants and hoped that within the next two years 10,000 trees would be planted in the school premises.

Srinagar, March 25
Asgar Hassan Samoon, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, has issued instructions to the Chief Engineer, R&B, Kashmir, to make the Divisional Commissioner's office building easily accessible for people with disabilities.

He gave these instructions when a man on crutches had to struggle to climb the steps leading to the Divisional Commissioner's room in the building recently.

The Divisional Commissioner immediately called Ashfaq Rasool, junior engineer, and directed him to construct a ramp to make his room accessible to people with disabilities, an official spokesman said.

The Divisional Commissioner has asked all heads of departments to ensure that government buildings are made barrier-free for the convenience of the disabled.

The Handicapped Association has hailed the decision of the Divisional Commissioner and hoped that other officers will also follow the suit.