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Implementation of National Rural Health Mission
Finds fault with Director, Health Services
Kashmir to have cricket premier league: |
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Official website of Kishtwar district sought
Give proposed Vigilance Commission more powers, govt urged
Buddhist Heritage Site at Ambaran
Migration of Kashmiri Pandits created vacuum in society, says Sagar
Security of
Jammu-Srinagar Highway
Dantewada
carnage
New law will provide better services: Bhalla
2 teachers held on charge of sexual harassment
Rush at Tulip Garden precursor to good tourist season
Omar may award plot to Raina in Srinagar
6th notification of panchayat poll issued
‘Look into central varsity’s working’
Babademb to be revived as heritage water body
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Implementation of National Rural Health Mission The pitfalls
Jammu, April 4 The CAG in its report pointed out that as the first step towards the provision of accessible, affordable and equitable health care under the NRHM, a survey of households and facilities was to be carried out by the District Health Society through trained accredited social health activists, anganwari workers and auxiliary nursing midwives to identify the gaps in health care facilities and assess the health care requirement at the grass-roots level. The report revealed that the household survey had not been conducted. Even the facility survey was conducted partially through a private firm and the district plan was prepared without the receipt or survey of data from lower functionaries. Besides conducting surveys, the District Health Society was required to prepare a perspective plan as well as the annual district health action plan for the entire mission period from 2005 to 2011 based on the survey data and inputs from the lower tiers of the government. Although the NHRM was required to cooperate with other department programmes, NGOs, Village Health Sanitation Committees (VHSCs) and Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKS), it was not done, the report said. “The community participation in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the programme was not ensured either,” it added. The report pointed out that the scrutiny of the record revealed that only 594 VHSCs had been formed against the target of 790 committees in the district. The Rogi Kalyan Samiti in the district did not have adequate representation of NGOs, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. It revealed that an uneven distribution of health care facilities in Rajouri district was a fallout of the failure of the department to conduct a survey of households and facilities to assess the health care requirements at the grass-roots level. |
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Finds fault with Director, Health Services
Jammu, April 4 The government agency, Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Limited (JKPCCL), had no expertise in the purchase of the medical equipment and thus the funds remained blocked and could not be spent for creating necessary health care facilities for the needy people. In its report for the year ended March 31, 2010, the CAG said the DHS, Jammu, had released Rs 1.17 crore each to the Medical Superintendent, Gandhi Nagar Hospital, Jammu, and the Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) of the five district hospitals of Kathua, Doda, Rajouri, Udhampur and Poonch in March 2008 for the purchase of six CT scanners and these officers in turn placed the funds at the disposal of the JKPCCL. “The improper decision of the DHS, Jammu, to place the funds at the disposal of an agency that has no expertise in the purchase of the medical equipment resulted in the blocking of Rs 7.02 crore for over two years, defeating the objective of the government to provide modern medical facilities to the people at government hospitals at an affordable cost,” the report stated. It said, on this being pointed out by the audit, the JKPCCL admitted in March 2010 that Rs 7.02 crore paid by one Medical Superintendent and five CMOs was lying with it and would be refunded, as it did not have any technical expertise in the purchase of such equipment. The report added that the matter was referred to the Health Department from time to time, but there had been no response. |
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Kashmir to have cricket premier league: Lt-Gen Hasnain
Srinagar, April 4 He said the Army had spoken to the officials of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association and with their collaboration and the active participation of other agencies and two-month cricket extravaganza would take place in the Valley. “The Kashmir youth have a lot of talent. First, the selection will be held at the district level and then one team each from small districts and two teams from big districts will be selected. A tournament would be held on the pattern of the Indian Premier League,” Lt-Gen Hasnain said. He said the aim of holding the KPL would be to identify talent in Kashmir and select two or three players who could play in the national team. “Two or three players will be selected and the Army will sponsor them for training in the cricket academies in the country where their talent could be nurtured and they could get a chance to represent their state in the national team,” Lt-Gen Hasnain said. He said the Army would provide the infrastructure for holding the KPL and it would also seek the help of the state government. “We will arrange for the cricket equipment and the levelling of cricket pitches and stadiums in the Valley. Though the KPL will not be a commercial tournament, it will be one of the best cricket tournaments in the state and the country,” Lt-Gen Hasnain said. “The matches of the IPL are starting in a few days and the people of Kashmir will have their own KPL to cherish,” Lt-Gen Hasnain said. Besides, the Army also planned to hold a football tournament in Kashmir soon after the KPL. |
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Official website of Kishtwar district sought
Udhampur, April 4 YC leader Sheikh Nasir Hussain, in a statement issued in Kishtwar today, rued that in the present era of technology, the district authorities had failed to create a website of the district for the last four years. Kishtwar was accorded the status of a district in April 2007 and since then, despite repeated requests, the district authorities had failed to develop a website for the reasons best known to them, he alleged. In view of the fact that every district of the state had its own official website carrying all information and necessary data related to officials, the residents of Kishtwar district are a neglected lot as they have to run from one office to another to collect necessary information in the absence of a website. Sheikh Nasir emphasised that the official website could go a long way in exploiting the tourism potential, as the district was endowed with an enviable natural beauty, besides famous religious shrines and ancient sites with great historical importance. A large number of tourists from other parts of the country and abroad could be attracted to Kishtwar if authentic online information was available to them. This could help in improving the area’s economy as well, added Nasir. The YC leader said besides providing information regarding tourist places and other facts to the outsiders, the website could also be beneficial to the locals, who wanted to know about the developmental process, implementation of government schemes as well as the utilisation of funds. He urged the government to direct the authorities concerned to create a website of this predominantly mountainous district with all necessary information without any further delay. |
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Give proposed Vigilance Commission more powers, govt urged
Jammu, April 4 In a joint press conference here yesterday, the RTI activists apprehended that the proposed body might become a paper tiger under the present SVC Act. They demanded that an effective anti-corruption agency be formed in place of the proposed organisation by appointing a Lokayukta/ Lokpal to root out corruption from the public domain. Balraj Puri, a senior journalist and Director of the Institute of Jammu and Kashmir Affairs, said, “We have collectively studied and discussed the SVC Act and firmly believe that the proposed SVC is doomed to become a toothless anti-corruption agency”. Puri claimed that the proposed body lacked the autonomy and authority to investigate and punish corrupt officials. Highlighting omissions in the drafting of the SVC Act, a noted social activist, Prof Zahir-ud-Din, said the Jammu and Kashmir SVC Act was a carbon copy of the Central Vigilance Commission Act, except for some changes that made the SVC subservient to the state government. He observed that the former Anti-Corruption Commission (1962-1983) under the State Government Servants’ Prevention of Corruption Act was far better than the Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Organisation under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act 1983. Puri said the existing Act lacked provisions to ensure time-bound investigations. Another activist, BA Malla, a retired DIG, said over a period of time nearly 200 cases had been referred to the state government with recommendations seeking disciplinary action, but disciplinary action was not initiated against the tainted officials in any of these cases. Maintaining that there was no check on corruption in the state, Sheikh Sakeel, a senior advocate, expressed concern over the headless State Accountability Commission. Sohail Qazmi, general secretary of the Press Club of Jammu, said like militancy, corruption had become a serious problem in the state. Balwinder Singh, a member of the Jammu and Kashmir RTI Movement, argued that the government must appoint a panel of eminent citizens, anti-corruption experts and honest government officials to re-examine the corruption cases. |
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Buddhist Heritage Site at Ambaran
Jammu, April 4 A meeting of the association held under the chairmanship of its president, Inderjeet Khajuria, here today said the visit of the Dalai Lama to Ambaran would boost pilgrimage and tourism to this place and other historical places in the area, thus providing impetus to tourism in the Jammu region. The association also hailed the Sharma brothers for popularising Ambaran and other heritage spots like Jio Pota, where Gulab Singh was coronated as the king of Jammu by Maharaja of Punjab, Ranjit Singh. Noted journalist Vijay Kranti and his photographer son Akshat Kranti also popularised the historical Akhnoor fort, Chenab river, Gurdwara Tapo Asthan and Bhagwan Parshu Ram Temple through their work, observed the association. It was following motivation by Madan Lal Sharma and Sham Lal Sharma that Vijay Kranti and Akshat Kranti spent a lot of time in Akhnoor to take the photographs of the recently discovered Stupa and relics at Ambaran and other historical places in their vicinity. The association has appealed to the state government, particularly Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora, as well as all stake holders to take keen interest in the promotion of tourism in Jammu and make their best contributions to making the visit of the Dalai Lama to Akhnoor a grand success. This would be a path-breaking event for promoting the Buddhist heritage site as well as other heritage spots in the area, said Khajuria. The others who attended the meeting included BS Manhas, Pawan Gupta, Baldev and Amarjeet Singh. |
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Migration of Kashmiri Pandits created vacuum in society, says Sagar
Jammu, April 4 The minister was speaking at a function organised by the Aathwass, an organisation for writers, artists and producers from the displaced community, here yesterday, which was attended by MLC Vijay Bakaya and senior officials, intellectuals and writers. On the occasion, awards were conferred upon various media personalities and writers, including Dr RL Shant, Bharti Zaroo, ND Jamwal, Farooq Nazki and Mushtaq Ali, for their contributions to their respective fields. A colourful cultural programme and a film dedicated to the legendary broadcaster of Kashmir, Padamshri Pushkar Bhan, was also presented. Referring to the concept of Kashmiriyat, Sagar said despite upheavals in the past, strong bonds of common ethos and culture were unparallelled among the Kashmiri people. The time was not far when the Kashmiri Pandits would return to their places and strengthen the age-old traditions of mutual brotherhood and peaceful co-existence for which Kashmir was known globally, he said. Bakaya also spoke on the occasion and appreciated the role of the organisation in the preservation of art and culture. |
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Security of
Jammu-Srinagar Highway
Jammu, April 4 “The MHA issued an order in this regard to us today, and also sent its copy to DGP Kuldeep Khoda, to relieve two battalions of the CRPF, 74 Battalion and 151 Battalion, from counter-insurgency duty,” sources in the CRPF told The Tribune. At present, the 74 Battalion and the 151 Battalion are deployed along with the state police for counter-insurgency operations in Kishtwar and Gandoh, they added. “We have already written to DGP Kuldeep Khoda to relieve the two battalions to enable us to take over the remaining highway from May 1,” said the sources. One Battalion of the CRPF comprises 1,151 jawans and officers. Fifteen companies of the CRPF would be deployed on the remaining stretch of the highway, they added. However, the paucity of accommodation en route the Kashmir highway has hampered the deployment of the CRPF by almost a year. The paramilitary force needs accommodation to house one headquarters of 2 battalions and 15 more companies on the 65-km stretch of the highway. Last year in April, the CRPF had partially taken over the security of the highway, from Jammu to the Chenab, in Ramban from the Army. Union Defence Minister AK Antony, on January 12 last year, had announced that the CRPF would take over the charge of the highway from the Army in a phased manner and would start guarding the highway. As far as accommodation was concerned, the Army had agreed to provide us some more structures on the highway, said sources in the CRPF. The strategic highway, the only surface link to the Kashmir valley, has always remained on the terror radar of various militant groups. The militants in the past had used timers, remote control bombs and pressure-operated IEDs on the highway to target the security forces. |
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Dantewada
carnage
Jammu, April 4 As part of their pledge, which will be administered to them, reads, “We will not let their sacrifices go in vain and pledge
that we will not rest till completely succeed over these anti-national forces”. |
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Kashmir Sikhs demand minority status
Srinagar, April 4 Addressing mediapersons here today, Jagmohan Singh Raina, chairman of the APSCC, lamented that the government had ignored the minority community, particularly living in the Kashmir valley over the past two decades. The other demands of the community included better education, employment opportunities and political reservation for the community. He said the Sikh community had suffered a lot due to the apathetic attitude of the government. Raina, along with other members of the community, urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to disclose what steps had been taken to resolve the issues of the Sikhs put forth to him by the APSCC during a recent meeting. The minority community was still facing hardships in the state in the absence of the minority status and it had suffered a lot as community members were massacred at Chittisinghpora, Poshkriri and Mehjoor Nagar, the APSCC leaders said. The community had apprised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and various parliamentarians about their condition in the state. |
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New law will provide better services: Bhalla
Jammu, April 4 The minister was speaking at a function organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Common Service Centre, known as Khidmat, here yesterday. Bhalla described the Bill as path-breaking and a meaningful effort towards providing transparent administration and good governance to the people of the state He said traditionally, Khidmat means to help out. He added that “true to its name, the organisation is committed to devising ways to make information available to one and all, which is the greatest of services to the mankind”. Bhalla said the Khidmat centre, as a subsidiary of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, had worked hard to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas of the state. Earlier, the minister attended a Chandi Mata Jagran at the Dusshera Ground organised by the Gandhi Nagar Bazaar Association in connection with the victory of the Indian cricket team in the ICC World Cup in
Mumbai. |
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2 teachers held on charge of sexual harassment
Jammu, April 4 “The accused teacher used to pass lewd remarks against senior girl students of his school. He will also seek sexual favours from them by threatening to fail them in the internal examination,” it said. A case has been registered against the accused teacher under Sections 294, 506 and 509 of the RPC at Mendhar police station. In a similar incident, Nazir Ahmed, a resident of Khanetar, was arrested for sexually harassing girl students at Government Middle School at Khanetar. “There were complaints that the teacher would hurl vulgar abuses at girl students,” the police said. It added that, “Recently, he was forcing a girl student to take home a cellphone so that he could keep in touch with her”. However, the girl resisted and brought the matter to the notice of his father. “The teacher was arrested on a complaint by the girl’s father,” the police said. It added that a case had been registered under Section 294 of the RPC at Poonch police station. “Both teachers are in police custody and
investigations are on,” said ASP, Poonch, Yougal Manhas. |
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Land Grabbing
Jammu, April 4 Addressing mediapersons here today, Lal Singh termed the allegations as false and a move to tarnish his political image. “Let him (Sapolia) prove the allegations against me and if he does that, I will resign from Parliament immediately,” said Lal Singh. “I will file a breach of privilege motion against Sapolia, as he has tried to tarnish my image,” he said, adding that the MLA, being a failure on the political front, harboured mala fide intentions against him. Lal Singh claimed that the documents furnished by Sapolia in the Assembly to substantiate the allegations of land grabbing did not pertain to him. The Congress MP also seized the opportunity to list his achievements in initiating developmental activities in his Parliamentary constituency. He claimed that he initiated a number of major projects like a railway line, bridge at Basohli, additional trains to Jammu and Udhampur and train stoppages at Kathua and Ghagwal in the past few years. |
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Rush at Tulip Garden precursor to good tourist season
Srinagar, April 4 “Though due to rain the number of visitors to the Tulip Garden has decreased, tourists are still coming to see the garden,” Javid Ahmed Shah, District Floriculture Officer, told The Tribune. He said since its inauguration four days ago, around 10,000 persons had visited the garden so far. The officials of the Department of Tourism are keeping their fingers crossed for the ongoing tourist season. “The Valley has been witnessing turmoil during summer since 2008, badly hitting the tourism industry,” said an official of the State Tourism Department. He said the department was hopeful that the situation would remain normal this year and more and more tourists would visit the Valley. A heavy rush of tourists to the Tulip Garden was a precursor to a good tourist season, he added. Sources said some filmmakers from South India and the Bollywood were planning to visit the Tulip Garden in the coming days for shooting.
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Omar may award plot to Raina in Srinagar
Jammu, April 4 Omar gave a hint to this effect in his tweet, when it was brought to his notice that Raina, born in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district in 1986, was a Kashmiri Pandit. “Really”, Omar wondered over the tweet sent to him by another Kashmiri Pandit, Aditya Raj Kaul. Omar added, “I’d love to have him play for J&K. We need a mascot and the
state would be happy to award a plot to him in Srinagar”. The Chief Minister has sought other details about the player and his Kashmir connection. “Raina” is one of the major surnames among Kashmiri
Pandits. — IANS |
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6th notification of panchayat poll issued
Jammu, April 4 The last date for filing nominations is April 13 and the scrutiny of the nominations will take place on April 15. The last date for the withdrawal of candidature is April 18 and the date of polling and counting of votes is May 4. The first notification for the panchayat elections was issued on March 18, second on March 22, third on March 25, fourth on March 29 and the fifth on April 1.
— PTI |
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‘Look into central varsity’s working’
Jammu, April 4 “We noticed that no senior officer was present on the campus when the Vice-Chancellor was not in the office,” said forum’s state president Sandeep Singh Chib. He added that the Governor and the Chief Minister should immediate mark an inquiry in this regard. |
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Babademb to be revived as heritage water body
Srinagar, April 4 Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar yesterday visited the old city and decided to develop the area as the heritage city, an official spokesman said. The two ministers decided to develop Babademb as the heritage water body, he said. A gate near the Dastgeer Sahib shrine in Khanyar would also be constructed.
— PTI |
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Srinagar, April 4
